What is milk cow Uboat?
The Type XIV U-boat was a modification of the Type IXD, designed to resupply other U-boats, being the only submarine tenders built which were not surface ships. They were nicknamed “Milchkuh/Milchkühe (pl.)” (milk cows).
What fuel did U-boats use?
Most used diesel engines (Germany started the war with some gasoline-burning U-boats, but soon embraced diesel) and had a range of more than 4,000 miles, but they couldn’t go very fast or stay under very long.
How far can a U-boat travel?
When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
What was the range of a German U-boat?
Since World War I, nautical technology has evolved at a rapid rate, but in 1914 U-boats were considered quite advanced. These vessels could reach maximum depths of 50 meters or 165 feet, achieve speeds of 16 knots at the surface and eight knots underwater, and had a range of up to 25,000 miles.
How long could U boats stay at sea?
The typical U-boat was 214 feet long, carried 35 men and 12 torpedoes, and could travel underwater for two hours at a time.
Has a submarine ever sunk another submarine?
German submarine U-864 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine in World War II. On 9 February 1945, it became the only submarine in history to be sunk by an enemy submarine while both were submerged.
What did they eat on U-boats?
Lunch would be soup, potatoes, cooked meat and vegetables, and fruit. Dinner included sausages or canned fish, cheese, bread, and coffee, tea or chocolate. The galley was located on the starboard side, between the chiefs’ quarters and the wardroom, and was made up of three hotplates and two small electric ovens.
Can submarines fight each other?
Submarine warfare consists primarily of diesel and nuclear submarines using torpedoes, missiles or nuclear weapons, as well as advanced sensing equipment, to attack other submarines, ships, or land targets. Submarines may also be used for reconnaissance and landing of special forces as well as deterrence.
What is a milch cow?
What is a Milch Cow? The Milch Cows were U-boats of type XIV and which their role was to support the operating VII and IX fighting U-boats by delivering supplies and ammunition.
What happened to the’milch cows’of WW2?
The Milch Cows were of course a priority target for all Allied forces. The first ‘Milch Cow’ (U-459) was commissioned on November 15 1941 and went out on its first patrol in March 1942 after training and trials in the Baltic. The last ‘Milch Cow’ (U-490) was sunk on June 11. 1944 on its first operational patrol.
How many cows are in Germany?
Germany has around 12.9 million head of cattle in total, including 4.2 million dairy cows and 0.7 million suckler cows. Germany has the largest dairy cattle herd and the second largest cattle population in the European Union.
What was the purpose of the U-boat milch cows?
They were built to resupply the fighting U-boats in the Atlantic and thus had no offensive power, only anti-aircraft weapons for defence. For more information about these boats and their missions see The Milch Cows page.