Seeteufel

The Seeteufel or "Sea Devil" was a tracked two-man amphibian midget submarine which solved all of the vulnerability and technical problems associated with German midget subs that had to be launched at sea- even midget subs as small as the Neger (Negro) one man piloted torpedo.The Seeteufel (a.k.a. "Elefant" or "Loedige Projekt")was developed at Kiel-Eckernförde which was the German Navy's (Kriegsmarine's) torpedo testing ground where Dipl Ing Alois Loedige was the project leader.

Seeteufel is also an epithet of Felix von Luckner.

Development

The first and only prototype was available for testing in the summer of 1944. Since there were no diesel engines available, an 80hp gasoline truck engine had to be installed. It served for both surface propulsion (8kts) and land propulsion (10km/h). The Seeteufel was to be armed primarily with two torpedoes. Mines and possibly either machine guns or flame throwers were also considered.The trials at Eckernförde showed the vessel to have very good manoeuvering and handling abilities although underpowered. It was subsequently decided that the production series should have a 250hp diesel engine. lt was also discovered that the tracks were too small and would have to be refitted with larger ones.

Destruction

After testing was completed, a series of standard Seeteufels were ordered at the Borgward factory at Bremen but production never began. The only existing experimental vessel was taken to a facility near Lübeck, and destroyed at the end of the war.

Technical data

* Description: Midget U-boat
* First launched: 1944
* Complement of Men: 2
* Displacement surface: circa 2.0 t
* Displacement submerged: 18.0 - 20.0 t
* Length: 13.5 m
* Beam, max: circa 2.0 m
* Depth: 2.9 m (5.5 m with schnorkel mast)
* Max speed surfaced: N/A
* Max speed submerged:
** 10 kt petrol/gas - with schnorkel
** 8 kt electric
* Radius surfaced:
** 30 hours at top speed
** 80 hours at cruising speed
* Radius submerged:
** 30 hours at top speed (petrol/gas)
** 10 hours at top speed (electric)
** 80 hours at cruising speed (petr/gas)
** 20 hours at cruising speed (electric)
* Max diving depth: 50.0 m (prototype made 20.0 m)
* Diving time, stationary: N/A
* Diving time, alarm moving: N/A
* Oil fuel carried: N/A
* Torpedo tubes, bow / stern: None
* Nr of torpedoes / mines: 2 or 2
* Guns fitted: None

Diagram

* [http://www.dataphone.se/~ms/ubootw/boats_type-seeteufel__2.jpg]

Photo

*http://www.dataphone.se/~ms/ubootw/boats_type-seeteufel.jpg
* [http://einestages.spiegel.de/hund-images/2008/04/10/91/b4ce6e64ccebf4cde64215d10637ea7f_image_document_large.jpgSeeteufel on Spiegel.de]

Online Resources

*http://www.dataphone.se/~ms/ubootw/boats_type-seeteufel.htm
*http://uboat.net/types/steufel2.htm
*http://www.uboat.net/types/steufel.htm
*http://hera.mni.fh-giessen.de/~hg6339/data/de/submarines/1944_midget-submarines/css_xxxx_seeteufel.htm
*http://strangevehicles.greyfalcon.us/BORGWARD%20SEETEUFEL.htm

References

1. Robert Dale Arndt Jr. "Strange Vehicles of Pre-War Germany & the Third Reich (1928-1945)", 2006, IRP Publication