History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-531 |
Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
Builder: | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg |
Yard number: | 346 |
Laid down: | 22 December 1941 |
Launched: | 12 August 1942 |
Commissioned: | 28 October 1942 |
Fate: | Sunk 6 May 1943 in the North Atlantic. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type IXC/40 submarine |
Displacement: |
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Length: |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
Installed power: |
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Propulsion: |
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Speed: |
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Range: |
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Test depth: | 230 m (750 ft) |
Complement: | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
Commanders: | Oblt.z.S. Herbert Neckel |
Victories: | None |
German submarine U-531 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. She was laid down at Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as yard number 346 on 22 December 1941, launched on 12 August 1942 and commissioned on 28 October with Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Neckel in command.
Her service began with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla; she then joined the 2nd flotilla for operations on 1 April 1943.
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-531 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).