German submarine U-D5

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-D5
Builder:	Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Laid down:	3 August 1939
Launched:	26 September 1941
Commissioned:	30 January 1942
Decommissioned:	9 May 1945
Fate:	Returned to the Dutch Navy 1945
Netherlands
Name:	O-27
Commissioned:	13 July 1945
Decommissioned:	14 November 1959
Fate:	Broken up 1961
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	O 21-class submarine
Displacement:	990 tons surfaced 1205 tons submerged
Length:	77.70 m (254 ft 11 in)
Beam:	6.80 m (22 ft 4 in)
Draught:	3.95 m (13 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:	2 × 2,500 PS (2,466 bhp; 1,839 kW) diesel engines 2 × 500 PS (493 bhp; 368 kW) electric motors
Range:	10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) submerged
Complement:	39
Armament:	4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes 2 × 21 in stern torpedo tubes 2 × 21 in (1×2) external-traversing TT amidships

U-D5 was an O 21-class submarine. The boat was laid down as the Dutch submarine K XXVII and renamed O 27 but was captured during the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II and commissioned in the Kriegsmarine. The ship survived the war and was returned to the Netherlands where she served under her old name until 1959.

Ship history

The submarine was ordered on 8 July 1938 and laid down on 3 August 1939 as K XXVII at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam. During construction she was renamed O 27. Following the German invasion of 10 May 1940, the not yet launched O 27 was captured at the yard by the invading forces.^[2]

The Germans decided to complete her. The launch took place on 26 September 1941. She served in the Kriegsmarine as U-D5 and was commissioned on 30 January 1942.^[2][3]

From November 1941 to August 1942 U-D5 served as training boat in Kiel when attached to the 5th Flotilla. From August 1942 until January 1943 the boat was stationed at Lorient in occupied France and attached to the 10th Flotilla.^[2]

When patrolling west of Freetown U-D5 spotted and sank the 7,628 GRT British freighter Primrose Hill on 29 October 1942.^[2]

In January 1943 the boat was transferred to Bergen in occupied Norway and attached to the U-boot Abwehr Schule to be used as school boat until May 1945. U-D5 surrendered on 9 May 1945. U-D5 was planned to be scuttled as part of Operation Deadlight but was recognized as a former Dutch boat and was returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy. On 13 July 1945 she was commissioned in the Dutch Navy as O 27.^[2]

She served in the Dutch navy until she was stricken on 14 November 1959. She was stationed in Den Helder where she served as torpedo trial boat, piggy boat, and training vessel. In 1961 she was broken up.^[2]

References

1. "Dutch Submarines: The O 21 submarine class". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
2. "Dutch Submarines: The submarine O 27". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "UD-5". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 July 2013.

Bibliography

• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.