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U-48
submarine
The U-48 was the most
feared German submarine in the Atlantic Ocean during
World War II. She was in service for only two years, but
sank an unparalleled 51 targets for a total tonnage of
300,537 in her 12 patrols.
U-48 was built at the
Germaniawerft in Kiel as Werk 583 during 1938 and 1939,
being completed a few months before the outbreak of war
in September 1939 and given to Kapitänleutnant Herbert
Schultze. When war was declared, she was already in
position in the North Atlantic, and received the news
via radio, allowing her to operate immediately against
Allied shipping.
U-48 shared measurements
and features with other Type VIIB vessels: 66.5 meters
in length. The armament included a C30 20 mm
anti-aircraft gun and 14 torpedoes fired from five 53.3
cm (21 in) torpedo tubes. Alternatively, the sub carried
26 TMA mines, laid on the bottom in shallow seaways, and
detonated when a big ship passed over their position.
The commander of U-48,
Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze, was a lucky man in
many respects. His period of command coincided with the
most successful period of U-Boat operations. His
victories at sea brought him recognition and status; the
Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross was personally awarded
by Hitler just as he finished operational patrolling in
1941.
At the beginning of the
war, while sailing near the British coast, Herbert
Schultze sank the British merchant ship Royal Sceptre.
The U-48's captain displayed compassion for the defeated
vessel's crew when he ensured that they were rescued by
another British ship.
U-48 survived most of the war and was scuttled by her
own crew on 3 May 1945 off Neustadt in order to keep the
submarine out of the hands of the advancing allies.
Without rust marks
$2,940
Shipping and insurance in
the contiguous USA included.
Other places: $300 flat rate. This model is in stock and
can be shipped within 5 business days.
With rust marks
$3,590
Shipping and insurance in
the contiguous USA included.
Other places: $300 flat rate. This model is in stock and
can be shipped within 8 business days. (We need
several days to make the rust marks. Please click
here for a sample.)
Learn more about U-48 here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-48_(1939)
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