The Type IX U-boat was designed by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. Type IX boats were briefly used for patrols off the eastern United States in an attempt to disrupt the stream of troops and supplies bound for Europe. It was derived from the Type IA, and appeared in various sub-types.

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Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...

U-505, a type IXC U-boat
Class overview
Operators	Kriegsmarine  Imperial Japanese Navy (U-511 as Ro-500, U-1224 as Ro-501, U-181 as I-501, U-862 as I-502, and U-195 as I-506)  Soviet Navy (post war; U-1231 as B-26)  French Navy (post war; U-123 as Blaison and U-510 as Bouan)  Royal Canadian Navy (surrendered and seized; U-889 and U-190)
Preceded by	Type I
Succeeded by	Type X (minelayer) Type XXI (oceanic "Elektroboot")
Subclasses	Type XIV (submarine tanker)
Built	1937 -1945
In commission	1938 -1945
Planned	290
Building	195
Completed	194
Cancelled	95
Preserved	2 (U-505 in US and U-534 in UK)
General characteristics
Propulsion	2 × MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 PS (4,300 shp; 3,200 kW) 2 × SSW 1 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 PS (990 shp; 740 kW) 6 × Daimler-Benz MB501 20 cylinder Diesel marine engines with total power of 9,000 horsepower (9,100 PS; 6,700 kW) (IX-D/42 Variant)[1]
Speed	33.7 km/h (18.2 kn) (surfaced) 14.3 km/h (7.7 kn) (submerged)
Range	13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	48 to 56 (55 to 63 in Type IXD)
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (24 in Type IXD) 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun various AA guns

Close

Type IXs had six torpedo tubes; four at the bow and two at the stern. They carried six reloads internally and had five external torpedo containers (three at the stern and two at the bow) which stored ten additional torpedoes. The total of 22 torpedoes allowed U-boat commanders to follow a convoy and strike night after night. Some of the IXC boats were fitted for mine operations; as mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines.

Secondary armament was provided by one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) deck gun with 180 rounds. Anti-aircraft armament differed throughout the war. They had two periscopes in the tower. Types IXA and IXB had an additional periscope in the control room, which was removed in Type IXC and afterward. These long range boats were frequently equipped with Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 rotor kite towed rotary-wing aircraft.

Type IXB was an improved model with an increased range. It was the most successful version overall with each boat averaging a total of over 100,000 GRT sunk.

Notable IXB boats included U-123 commanded by Reinhard Hardegen, which opened up the attack in the US waters in early 1942 known as Operation Drumbeat, U-156, which was bombed by a US aircraft while flying a Red Cross-flag and rescuing survivors of a torpedoed ship (Laconia incident), and U-107 operating off Freetown, Sierra Leone under the command of Günter Hessler, which had the most successful single mission of the war ever with close to 100,000 GRT sunk.

The Type IXC was a further refinement of the class with storage for an additional 43 tonnes of fuel, increasing the boat's range. This series omitted the control room periscope leaving the boats with two tower scopes.

As mine-layers they could carry 44 TMA or 66 TMB mines, though the 35 boats of U-162 through U-170 and U-505 through U-550 were not fitted for mine operations.^[2]

The only U-boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, U-166, was a Type IXC.

U-505 survives at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and was completely renovated after being moved in 2004 to a purpose-built indoor berth.^[3]

Type IXC/40 was an improved Type IXC with slightly increased range and surfaced speed. The remains of U-534 are on display at Woodside Ferry Terminal, Birkenhead.^[4]

Type IXD was significantly longer and heavier than the IXC/40. It was faster than the IXC but at the cost of slightly reduced maneuverability. They had three pairs of Daimler Benz diesels: two pairs for cruise and one for high speed or battery recharge. There were three variants: the IXD1, IXD2 and IXD/42. The IXD1 had unreliable engines and they were later converted for use in surface transport vessels. The IXD2 comprised most of the class and had a range of 23,700 nautical miles (43,900 km; 27,300 mi). The IXD/42, was almost identical but with more engine power (5,400 hp (4,000 kW; 5,500 PS) instead of 4,400 hp (3,300 kW; 4,500 PS)).

In 1943 and 1944 the torpedo tubes were removed from a number of IXD boats converted for transport use. In their new role they could transport 252 tonnes of cargo. The range was extended to 31,500 nautical miles (58,300 km; 36,200 mi).^[1]