What was the Milchkuh in WWII?

What was the Milchkuh in WWII?

German submarine U-459 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat (Milchkuh or ‘milk cow’) of Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 22 November 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 290.

How many German submarines were lost in WWII?

In World War II Germany built 1,162 U-boats, of which 785 were destroyed and the remainder surrendered (or were scuttled to avoid surrender) at the capitulation.

How far could U-boats go?

U-boats could only travel about sixty miles underwater before having to surface for fresh air. They often attacked ships while on the surface using deck-mounted guns. Typically, about 50 men operated a U-boat.

What is a milk cow in U boat?

Milk cows. This update will add a new Type XIV u-boats to the game that used to be called “milk cows”. They are supply ships loaded with fuel, replacement parts and torpedoes. They even have a bakery on board.

What was the nickname given to Type XIV U-boats whose ability to refuel other subs made them a prime target of allied naval forces?

milk cows
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 was the U-boat type IV used for?

As a result, a supply U-tanker design was proposed in 1934, which role was to conduct U-boat replenishment at sea. This led to the Type IV design, a 2,500 ton supply U-boat, but tonnage restrictions of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement restricted Germany’s submarine tonnage to 45 percent of the Royal Navy.

How many cannons did the U-boat Type XIV have?

Two 37mm cannons were fitted, one forward and one aft of the bridge and a single 20mm on a platform aft. The Type XIV shared many components with the Type VIIC and the bridge was identical to the Type IX. Because of their role as supply U-Boats, the Type XIV was nicknamed “milk-cows” (milchkuh).

What is a U-boat update?

U-Boat updates. German strategic naval planners knew that in order to sustain any U-boat offense in distant shores, the operational boats would need to re-supplied and replenished.

Why did Germany stop making Type 4 U-boats?

This led to the Type IV design, a 2,500 ton supply U-boat, but tonnage restrictions of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement restricted Germany’s submarine tonnage to 45 percent of the Royal Navy. Since operational U-boats were the priority, the Type IV design was dropped.