German submarine Wilhelm Bauer

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German submarine Wilhelm Bauer (originally designated U-2540) is a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's navy (Kriegsmarine), completed shortly before the end of World War II. It was scuttled at the end of the war, having never gone on patrol. In 1957, it was raised from the seabed off Flensburg Firth, refurbished, and recommissioned for use by the West-German Bundesmarine in 1960. Finally retired fully in 1983, it is the only floating example of a Type XXI U-boat. It has been modified to appear in wartime configuration and exhibited at the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven, Germany.[1]

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2540 had a displacement of Script error: No such module "convert". when at the surface and Script error: No such module "convert". while submerged. She had a total length of Script error: No such module "convert"., a beam of Script error: No such module "convert"., and a draught of Script error: No such module "convert"..Template:Sfn The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing Script error: No such module "convert"., two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing Script error: No such module "convert"., and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing Script error: No such module "convert"..Template:Sfn

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of Script error: No such module "convert". and a submerged speed of Script error: No such module "convert".. When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of Script error: No such module "convert".. When submerged, the boat could operate at Script error: No such module "convert". for Script error: No such module "convert".; when surfaced, she could travel Script error: No such module "convert". at Script error: No such module "convert"..Template:Sfn U-2540 was fitted with six Script error: No such module "convert". torpedo tubes in the bow and four Script error: No such module "convert". C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.Template:Sfn

Construction and wartime service

Construction of U-2540 began on 28 October 1944 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. She was launched on 13 January 1945 and commissioned on 24 February 1945 as part of the 31st U-boat Flotilla for training purposes. In April 1945 the boat went to the front after training at Rønne on Bornholm. Due to the ongoing fuel shortages at the end of the war, the boat was relocated to Swinemünde before being scuttled near the Flensburg lightship on 4 May 1945.

Salvage, refit and new service

In June 1957, after more than 12 years on the floor of the Baltic Sea, U-2540 was raised and overhauled at Howaldtswerke, Kiel. The submarine was commissioned as a research vessel in the Bundesmarine, serving from 1 September 1960 until 28 August 1968 as a test boat (class 241). On relaunch she was renamed Wilhelm Bauer, after the designer of the first German U-boat, Brandtaucher, built in Kiel by August Howaldt in 1850. From May 1970 she again entered service, this time with a civilian crew and served as a testbed for the technical innovations of the Type 206 U-boat. After an underwater collision with the Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". on 6 May 1980 Wilhelm Bauer was discharged from use at Eckernförde on 18 November 1980 and finally released from service in 1983.

Conversion to museum ship

U-2540 was put on sale by the Ministry of Defence and acquired by the board of trustees of the German Maritime Museum Association and the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven. The boat was restored to its original World War II configuration after its transfer in August 1983 to the Seebeck yard, opening on 27 April 1984 as a museum ship in Bremerhaven, now sponsored by the Wilhelm Bauer Technology Museum association. It has a replica twin 20mm cannon mount and the bridge is not glazed as it was during service with the Bundesmarine.

In popular culture

Whilhem Bauer was featured in an episode of the documentary series Nazi Megastructures in 2016, with an episode titled "Hitler's Killer Subs", which included the history of the design and construction of the Type XXI submarine.

Gallery

Other surviving U-boats

References

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Bibliography

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External links

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