German submarine U-862

"U-862" was a German Type IXD2 submarine of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was the only German submarine to operate in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. After Germany's surrender in May 1945, "U-862" put into Singapore and was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy under the "I-502".

"U-862" was laid down on August 151942 by AG Weser of Bremen. She was commissioned on October 71943 with "Kapitänleutnant" Heinrich Timm in command. Timm commanded "U-862" for her entire career in the Kriegsmarine, receiving a promotion to "Korvettenkapitän" on July 11944.

"U-862" conducted two patrols, sinking seven ships totalling 42,374 tons.

"U-862" was one of the most travelled of all U-boats. She sailed from Germany in May 1944 and eventually reached Penang, in Japanese-controlled Malaya, in September 1944. Penang was the base for U-flotilla 33, code-named "Monsun" ("Monsoon").

On the way there, she launched a T5/G7es "Zaunkönig I" acoustic homing torpedo at a tanker. The Zaunkönig came around full circle to home in on "U-862" itself. Only an emergency crash dive saved the U-boat from its own torpedo. She also shot down an Allied PBY Catalina aircraft on August 201944 and then escaped an intense search for her. She sank several merchant ships in the Mozambique Channel between Africa and Madagascar.

"U-862" departed for her second war patrol from Jakarta in the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies in December 1944. Assigned the task of operating off Australia, she sailed down the west coast of Australia, across the Great Australian Bight, around the southern coast of Tasmania and then north towards Sydney where she sank the U.S.-registered Liberty Ship on December 25, 1944. She then travelled around New Zealand and actually entered the port of Napier at night undetected. (According to 'U-Boat Far from Home' "U-862" entered Gisborne Port - not Napier)

"U-862" then returned to the Indian Ocean. On February 6, 1945, about 1,520km (820 nm) southwest of Fremantle, "U-862" sank the U.S.-registered Liberty Ship, , which was loaded with mules bound for Burma.

"U-862" was also a trial boat for the FuMo 65 "Hohentwiel" radar system. This was cranked out of a casing on the port side of the conning tower and rose on a mast. The aerial was hand trained onto targets whilst the U-boat was at the surface. The radar had a range up to 7 nautical miles and was very effective where there was little risk from air attack on the U-boat.

When Germany surrendered on May 61945, she put into Singapore and was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Navy. On July 151945 she became the IJN submarine "I-502". I-502 surrendered at Singapore in August 1945 and was scuttled there on February 131946.

The German crew of "U-862" suffered no casualties, and some returned to Germany several years after the war.

Others having been interned at Kinmel Camp, Bodellwyddan North Wales were to remain in Wales and settled in the neighbouring communities of Rhyl, Rhuddlan and Prestatyn.This was due to the risks of returning to the Soviet occupied areas of Germany after the war.

Two of the crew are buried at the new cemetery at Rhuddlan North Wales on nearby plots.

ee also

* Axis naval activity in Australian waters
* Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters
* List of U-boats

External links

* http://uboat.net/boats/u862.htm