Type XB of which only eight were ever built was designed as a minelayer. They were also the largest submarine used by the Kriegsmarine in WW2. Capable of carrying 66 mines in thirty tubes, it also carried 15 torpedoes and had the unusual feature of having only two tubes both of which were located in the stern.

    Of the eight boats made, two survived the war, one, the U-234 (under the command of Kptlt Johann-Heinrich Fehler)  was rebuilt as a cargo transport to ferry war supplies between Germany and Japan. On this last trip the U-234 was carrying technical drawings, two crated ME262 jet fighters, 550 kilograms of uranium several senior German officers and two Japaneese officers.

    Upon receipt of cease-fire instructions from headquarters on May fourth 1945 commander Fehler aborted his mission and set course for the United States to surrender the vessel. Upon hearing of Fehlers intentions the two Japaneese officers commited suicide. Following the broadcasting of it's position the U-234 was boarded by a US Navy crew to prevent the anticipated destruction of the submarine and was brought under escort to the Naval Shipyards at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Two years after it's surrender the U-234 was sunk while being used as a torpedo test target.

     The last Type XB to survive was the U219 which was taken over by the Japaneese navy and used as the I505.

    Sources  www.uboat.net  www.german-navy.de  www.mass.gov

Good Stuff!

What happened to "I-505" ?

Regards,

  Here you go Dan, 

      http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-505.html

Can't get to it!

Sorry!

   Sorry Dan

        For some reason it won't work for me, but here you go.

         At Germanys surrender U219 is in port at Batavia (Jakarta) and is taken over by the Japaneese. U219 was ready to return to Europe with a cargo of raw rubber, tin and other war material.

           Later U219 departs for Surabaya under command of KK Burghagen and his crew along with some Japaneese. At Surabaya she is overhauled by the IJN #102 repair unit. Burghagen and his crew are interned in an open camp.

          15 July 1945, Still at Surabaya the U219 is commishioned into the IJN as I505 and assigned to the 2 Southern Expiditionary Fleet. However due to a lack of trained Japaneese submariners the I505 never leaves her moorings.

          Sept 1945, I505 is surrendered to the British.

          30 November removed from navy list

          February 1946 the Royal Navy scuttles I505 off Sundra Strait at 06-315, 104-54-8E

Hi Panther.

Thans for the update on I-505. Strange story about a U-Boat. Thanks,

Regards,

   It didn't get to much accomplished did it! As a historian I always find it incredible that we or are allies would just use these pieces of history as target practice or just take them out and scuttle them. Then 30 or 40 years later we kick ourselves for not saving a couple more of them, be it U-boat, Tiger tank, or Zero.

Hi Panther!

We have a different view of things after time.  Most of the people who were in the war want to forget, not remember.  When the memories are fresh  the view about these things is different. After the war there was so much war material around they needed to do something with all of it. The Allies for the most part destroyed most of it.  They had no need for most of the U-Boats.  They took what information they wanted and destroyrd the rest.  The Germans destroyed alot of material and records for what ever reasons... They even destroyed old military records going back to the 1700's! Why I don't know.  We today only wish we could see a Type IXC/40 U-Boat.  We have some photos and the memories of the Vets.  We need to preserve what we have, and not loose that too.

Regards,