View source for German submarine U-180

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name= ''U-180''
|Ship ordered= 28 May 1940
|Ship builder= [[DeSchiMAG]] [[AG Weser]], [[Bremen]]
|Ship yard number= 1020
|Ship laid down = 25 February 1941 
|Ship launched= 10 December 1941
|Ship commissioned= 16 May 1942
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate=Sunk, 23 August 1944
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= [[German Type IX submarine#Type IXD|Type IXD submarine]]
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|1610|t|LT|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|1799|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=
*{{convert|87.58|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[o/a]]
*{{convert|68.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[pressure hull]]
|Ship beam=
*{{convert|7.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
*{{convert|4.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull
|Ship height={{convert|10.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|5.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
*{{convert|9000|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|1000|PS|kW shp|-1|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=
*2 shafts
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[Motor-generator|electric motors]]
|ship speed=
*{{convert|20.8|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|6.9|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=
*{{convert|12,750|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|213|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement= 55 to 63
|Ship armament=
*6 × [[torpedo tube]]s (four bow, two stern)
*24 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo]]es (until 1943)
*1 × [[10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun|{{convert|10.5|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/32 deck gun]] (150 rounds)
*1 × [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] AA gun 
*2 × [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label= Service record<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u180.html
 |title=The Type IXD1 boat U-180
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-04
}}</ref>
|partof=
*[[4th U-boat Flotilla]]
*16 May 1942 - 31 January 1943
*[[12th U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 February - 1 November 1943
*1 April - 23 August 1944
|codes=M 44 013
|commanders=
*''[[F.Kapt.]]'' Werner Musenberg
*16 May 1942 - 4 January 1944
*''[[Oblt.z.S.d.R.]]'' Harald Lange
*October - 7 November 1943
*''Oblt.z.S.'' Rolf Riesen
*2 April - 23 August 1944
|operations=*2 patrols:
*1st patrol:
*9 February - 3 July 1943
*2nd patrol:
*20 – 23 August 1944
|victories=
*2 merchant ships sunk <br />({{GRT|13,298}})
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-180''''' was a [[German Type IX submarine#Type IXD|Type IXD1]] transport [[U-boat]] of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' which served in [[World War II]]. Her keel was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 25 February 1941 at the [[DeSchiMAG]] [[AG Weser]] yard in [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]] as yard number 1020. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 10 December 1941 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 16 May 1942 under ''[[Fregattenkapitän]]'' [[Werner Musenberg]] (Crew 25). Stripped of torpedo armament, the Type IXD1s were designated as transport submarines, and could carry up to 252 tonnes of freight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uboataces.com/articles-fareast-boats5.shtml |title=German Transport Boats to the Far East |website=www.uboataces.com |access-date=2009-12-04 }}</ref> ''U-180'' was used primarily in clandestine operations.

==Design==
[[German Type IX submarine#Type IXD|German Type IXD1 submarines]] were considerably larger than the original [[German Type IX submarine|Type IX]]s. ''U-180'' had a displacement of {{convert|1610|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1799|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74-75}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|87.58|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|68.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|7.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|10.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|5.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[MAN SE|MAN]] M 9 V 40/46 [[supercharged]] four-stroke, nine-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s plus two [[MWM GmbH|MWM]] RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of {{convert|9000|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] 2 GU 345/34 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|1000|shp|PS kW|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.90|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} [[propeller]]s. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|200|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74-75}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|20.8|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|6.9|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74-75}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|121|nmi}} at {{convert|2|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|12750|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ''U-180'' was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 [[torpedo]]es, one [[10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun|{{convert|10.5|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} SK C/32 naval gun]], 150 rounds, and a [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] with 2575 rounds as well as two [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of fifty-five.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74-75}}

==Service history==

===First patrol===

[[File:19430428 japanese submarine crew i-29.png|thumb|Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] (second from left in first row) and his [[adjutant]], [[Abid Hasan (diplomat)|Abid Hasan]] (far left in first row), with the crew members of {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-29||2}} after the exchange with ''U-180'' on 28 April 1943.]]

''U-180'' sailed from [[Kiel]] on 8 February 1943, with the leader of the [[Indian National Army]] Netaji [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] and his aide [[Abid Hasan (diplomat)|Abid Hasan]] aboard.

On 18 April ''U-180'' sank the British 8,132 GRT tanker ''Corbis'' about {{convert|500|nmi}} east southeast of [[Port Elizabeth]], South Africa.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2872.html
 |title=Corbis (Motor tanker)
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-04
}}</ref> Nine days later, on 27 April, the boat made her rendezvous with the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-29||2|up=yes}}, just east of [[Madagascar]] in the [[Indian Ocean]], Bose and Hassan  boarded I-29 and two Japanese naval officers, both shipbuilding officers, Captains Emi Tetsushiro and Tomonaga Hideo, who were to study U-boat building techniques upon their arrival in Germany, boarded U-180. Bose and Hasan's transfer is the only known record of a civilian transfer between two submarines of two different navies in World War II. Also received were two [[tonne]]s of [[Gold bar|gold ingots]] as payment from Japan for weapons technology.

On the return voyage, ''U-180'' sank the Greek freighter ''Boris '' west of [[Ascension Island]] on 3 June 1943.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2945.html
 |title=Boris (Steam merchant)
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-04
}}</ref>

During this voyage, ''U-180'' was supplied by {{GS|U-462||2}} on the way to the exchange. She was supposed to be refueled by {{GS|U-463||2}} on the way back, but that boat was sunk by the British on 16 May 1943. On 19 June, ''U-180'' was refueled by {{GS|U-530||2}}.

===Second patrol and loss===
Under the command of ''[[Oberleutnant zur See]]'' Rolf Riesen (Crew 38), ''U-180'' sailed from [[BETASOM|Bordeaux]] on 20 August 1944 bound for Japan. She was reported sunk off the [[Bay of Biscay]] on 23 August 1944, with the loss of all of her 56 crew. The official verdict is "sunk by a mine",<ref>{{cite book
 |last=Kemp
 |first=Paul
 |year=1999
 |title=U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars
 |publisher=Arms & Armour
 |isbn=1-85409-515-3
 |page=214
}}</ref> however, some experts speculate that trouble with the [[submarine snorkel|schnorkel]] (the underwater breathing and engine operating device), may have been the cause.

==Summary of raiding history==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"|-
!Date!!Ship!!Nationality!!Tonnage<br />([[Gross register tonnage|GRT]])!!Fate<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u180.html
 |title=Ships hit by U-180
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date= 29 December 2014
}}</ref>
|-
| 18 April 1943 || [[List of shipwrecks in April 1943#18 April|''Corbis'']] || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 8,132 || Sunk
|-
| 3 June 1943 || [[List of shipwrecks in June 1943#3 June|''Boris'']] || {{flag|Greece}} || 5,166 || Sunk
|}

==Media==
* ''U-180'' is the submarine shown in the 2004 Bollywood film ''[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero]]'' where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose travels with the German submarine U-180 around the Cape of Good Hope to the southeast of Madagascar, where he is transferred to the {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-29||2}} for the rest of the journey to Imperial Japan.
* ''U-180'' is the submarine carrying [[Nazi]] party secretary, [[Martin Bormann]], to South America in the [[Jack Higgins]] thriller, ''[[Thunder Point]]''.
* ''U-180'' is featured in the thriller ''Spook's Gold'' by Andrew Wood. The rendezvous on 21 April between ''U-180'' and ''I-29'', as well as an exchange of gold and military goods is a key element of the plot.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{cite book
|last1=Busch
|first1=Rainer
|last2=Röll
|first2=Hans-Joachim
|title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945
|work=Der U-Boot-Krieg
|volume=IV
|publisher=Mittler
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn
|year=1999
|isbn=3-8132-0514-2
|language=de

}}
*{{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|work=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}

{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u180.html
 |title=The Type IXD boat U-180
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-04
}}
*{{cite web
| url   =http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0180.html
| title  =''U 180''
| last   =Hofmann
| first  =Markus
| website =Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de
| language =de
| access-date=30 January 2015
}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928080920/http://www.uk-muenchen.de/berichte/erlebnisber_u180.htm U-180 and the Secret Operation] {{in lang|de}} [https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dsz57kh_1d2nzm6 trans.] {{in lang|en}}

 
{{German Type IXD submarines}}
{{August 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{Subject bar
| portal1=Military of Germany
| portal2=World War II
}}
{{coord|44.000|N|2.000|W|display=title|source:frwiki}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0180}}
[[Category:1941 ships]]
[[Category:German Type IX submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bremen (state)]]
[[Category:Ships lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Bay of Biscay]]
[[Category:Subhas Chandra Bose]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by mines]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1944]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in August 1944]]