What were the dimensions of a U-boat?

Answer 1

There were different sized U-boats so the dimensions varied. There is a website that has the dimensions of all U-boats from the very first commissioned one prior to WW1 to today. The link to the site is at the bottom. The page has photos, stats on all the boats and commanders and more.

But... here is the dimensions of a WW1 U-boat type U1 commissioned around 1906

Displacement: (in tons) 238 (surface or sf) 283 (submerged or sm) (total)

Length: (m) 42,39 oa (oa = overall)

32,50 (pH) pH is pressure on the hull

Beam: (m) 3,75 oa 2,80 pH

Draught: (draft) 3,17 m (metres)

Height: 6,35 m

Power: (hp) 400 (sf) 400 (sm)

Speed: (knots) 10,8 (sf) 8,7 (sm)

Range: (miles / knots) 1500/10 (sf) 50/5 (sm)

Torpedoes: 3 1/0 (bow / stern tubes)

Mines: No mines carried

Deck gun: No deck gun

Crew: 22 men

Max depth: ca. 30 m

(98 feet)

Compare that to a WW2 U-boat commissioned in 1939 type VIIC

Displacement: (tons)769 (sf) 871 (sm) 1070 (total)

Length: (m) 67,10 oa 50,50 pH

Beam: (m) 6,20 oa 4,70 pH

Draught: (draft) 4,74 m

Height: 9,60 m

Power: (hp) 3200 (sf) 750 (sm)

Speed (knots) 17,7 (sf) 7,6 (sm)

Range: (miles / knots) 8500/10 (sf) 80/4 (sm)

Torpedoes: 14 4/1 (bow / stern tubes)

Mines: 26 TMA

Deck gun: 88/45 220 rounds

Crew: 44-52 men

Max depth: ca. 220 m

(722 feet)

Answer 2

German Type 1 U-boat: 72.5 m (237 ft 10 in)

Answer 3

400 yards or feet

Answer 4

54 mph was the most common speed