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Germany has commissioned over 1,500 U-boats (German: Unterseeboot) into its various navies from 1906 to the present day. The submarines have usually been designated with a U followed by a number, although World War I coastal submarines and coastal minelaying submarines used the UB and UC prefixes, respectively. When Germany resumed building submarines in the 1930s, the numbering of the submarines was restarted at 1. The renumbering was restarted at 1 a third time when Germany resumed building submarines in the 1960s.

World War I–era U-boats

There were some 380 U-boats commissioned into the Kaiserliche Marine in the years before and during World War I. Although the first four German U-boats—U-1, U-2, U-3, and U-4—were commissioned before 1910, all four served in a training capacity during the war. German U-boats used during World War I were divided into three series. The U designation was generally reserved for ocean-going attack torpedo U-boats. The UB designation was used for coastal attack U-boats, while the UC designation was reserved for coastal minelaying U-boats.

U-boats

U-boats designed primarily for deep water service were designated with a U prefix and numbered up to 167.

Type U 1

SM U-1

Type U 2

SM U-2

Type U 3

Type U 5

Type U 9

Type U 13

Type U 16

SM U-16

Type U 17

Type U 19

Type U 23

Type U 27

Type U 31

Type U 43

Type U 51

Type U 57

Type U 63

Type U 66 (Type UD)

The Type U 66 submarines were originally constructed for Austro-Hungary as the U-7 class, but were sold to Germany at the start of WWI.

Type UE I (Type U 71)

Type U 81

Type U 87

Type U 93

Type U 115

Type UE II (Type U 117)

Type U 127

Type Large MS (Type U 135)

Type U 139

Type U 142

Type U 151 (Deutschland-class submarine)

Type U 158

UB coastal U-boats

Coastal attack torpedo U-boats were smaller craft intended for operation closer to land. They were designated with a UB prefix and numbered up to 155.

Type UB I

Type UB II

UB-18
UB-19
UB-20
UB-21
UB-22
UB-23
UB-24
UB-25
UB-26
UB-27
UB-28
UB-29
UB-30
UB-31
UB-32
UB-33
UB-34
UB-35
UB-36
UB-37
UB-38
UB-39
UB-40
UB-41
UB-42
UB-43
UB-44
UB-45
UB-46
UB-47

Type UB III

UB-48
UB-49
UB-50
UB-51
UB-52
UB-53
UB-54
UB-55
UB-56
UB-57
UB-58
UB-59
UB-60
UB-61
UB-62
UB-63
UB-64
UB-65
UB-66
UB-67
UB-68
UB-69
UB-70
UB-71
UB-72
UB-73
UB-74
UB-75
UB-76
UB-77
UB-78
UB-79
UB-80
UB-81
UB-82
UB-83
UB-84
UB-85
UB-86
UB-87
UB-88
UB-89
UB-90
UB-91
UB-92
UB-93
UB-94
UB-95
UB-96
UB-97
UB-98
UB-99
UB-100
UB-101
UB-102
UB-103
UB-104
UB-105
UB-106
UB-107
UB-108
UB-109
UB-110
UB-111
UB-112
UB-113
UB-114
UB-115
UB-116
UB-117
UB-118
UB-119
UB-120
UB-121
UB-122
UB-123
UB-124
UB-125
UB-126
UB-127
UB-128
UB-129
UB-130
UB-131
UB-132
UB-133
UB-134
UB-135
UB-136
UB-137
UB-138
UB-139
UB-140
UB-141
UB-142
UB-143
UB-144
UB-145
UB-146
UB-147
UB-148
UB-149
UB-150
UB-151
UB-152
UB-153
UB-154
UB-155

UC coastal minelaying U-boats

Coastal minelaying U-boats were smaller vessels intended to mine enemy harbors and approaches. They were designated with a UC prefix and numbered up to 114.

Type UC I

Type UC II

UC-16
UC-17
UC-18
UC-19
UC-20
UC-21
UC-22
UC-23
UC-24
UC-25
UC-26
UC-27
UC-28
UC-29
UC-30
UC-31
UC-32
UC-33
UC-34
UC-35
UC-36
UC-37
UC-38
UC-39
UC-40
UC-41
UC-42
UC-43
UC-44
UC-45
UC-46
UC-47
UC-48
UC-49
UC-50
UC-51
UC-52
UC-53
UC-54
UC-55
UC-56
UC-57
UC-58
UC-59
UC-60
UC-61
UC-62
UC-63
UC-64
UC-65
UC-66
UC-67
UC-68
UC-69
UC-70
UC-71
UC-72
UC-73
UC-74
UC-75
UC-76
UC-77
UC-78
UC-79

Type UC III

Thirty-five Type UC III submarines were planned, but only 25 were completed. Nine of these (UC-106 to UC-114) were never commissioned and were awarded to the United Kingdom and France and broken up in 1921. Ten of these (UC-80 to UC-89) were broken up at yard

UC-80
UC-81
UC-82
UC-83
UC-84
UC-85
UC-86
UC-87
UC-88
UC-89
UC-90
UC-91
UC-92
UC-93
UC-94
UC-95
UC-96
UC-97
UC-98
UC-99
UC-100
UC-101
UC-102
UC-103
UC-104
UC-105
UC-106
UC-107
UC-108
UC-109
UC-110
UC-111
UC-112
UC-113
UC-114

Foreign U-boats

At the outbreak of World War I Germany took charge of a number of submarines under construction in German shipyards for other countries.

SM UA (ex-Norwegian A class submarine A-5)
U-66 to U-70 (ex-Austro-Hungarian U-7 class U-7 to U-11)
US-1 (ex-Russian Bars class Burevestnik), only test run - not in service
US-2 (ex-Russian Bars class Orlan), Commissioned later abandoned to White Russian Forces
US-3 (ex-Russian Bars class Utka), only test run - not in service
US-4 (ex-Russian Bars class Gagara), only test run - not in service

World War II U-boats

In the World War II era, Germany commissioned some 1,250 U-boats into the Kriegsmarine.

Type I

Type II

Type IIA

Type IIB

Type IIC

Type IID

Type VII

Type VIIA

Type VIIB

Type VIIC

U-69
U-70
U-71
U-72
U-77
U-78
U-79
U-80
U-81
U-82
U-88
U-89
U-90
U-91
U-92
U-93
U-94
U-95
U-96
U-97
U-98
U-132
U-133
U-134
U-135
U-136
U-201
U-202
U-203
U-204
U-205
U-206
U-207
U-208
U-209
U-210
U-211
U-212
U-221
U-222
U-223
U-224
U-225
U-226
U-227
U-228
U-229
U-230
U-231
U-232
U-235
U-236
U-237
U-238
U-239
U-240
U-241
U-242
U-243
U-244
U-245
U-246
U-247
U-248
U-249
U-250
U-251
U-252
U-253
U-254
U-255
U-256
U-257
U-258
U-259
U-260
U-261
U-262
U-263
U-264
U-265
U-266
U-267
U-268
U-269
U-270
U-271
U-272
U-273
U-274
U-275
U-276
U-277
U-278
U-279
U-280
U-281
U-282
U-283
U-284
U-285
U-286
U-287
U-288
U-289
U-290
U-291
U-301
U-302
U-303
U-304
U-305
U-306
U-307
U-308
U-309
U-310
U-311
U-312
U-313
U-314
U-315
U-316
U-331
U-332
U-333
U-334
U-335
U-336
U-337
U-338
U-339
U-340
U-341
U-342
U-343
U-344
U-345
U-346
U-347
U-348
U-349
U-350
U-351
U-352
U-353
U-354
U-355
U-356
U-357
U-358
U-359
U-360
U-361
U-362
U-363
U-364
U-365
U-366
U-367
U-368
U-369
U-370
U-371
U-372
U-373
U-374
U-375
U-376
U-377
U-378
U-379
U-380
U-381
U-382
U-383
U-384
U-385
U-386
U-387
U-388
U-389
U-390
U-391
U-392
U-393
U-394
U-395
U-396
U-397
U-398
U-399
U-400
U-401
U-402
U-403
U-404
U-405
U-406
U-407
U-408
U-409
U-410
U-411
U-412
U-413
U-414
U-415
U-416
U-417
U-418
U-419
U-420
U-421
U-422
U-423
U-424
U-425
U-426
U-427
U-428
U-429
U-430
U-431
U-432
U-433
U-434
U-435
U-436
U-437
U-438
U-439
U-440
U-441
U-442
U-443
U-444
U-445
U-446
U-447
U-448
U-449
U-450
U-451
U-452
U-453
U-454
U-455
U-456
U-457
U-458
U-465
U-466
U-467
U-468
U-469
U-470
U-471
U-472
U-473
U-474
U-475
U-476
U-477
U-478
U-479
U-480
U-481
U-482
U-483
U-484
U-485
U-486
U-551
U-552
U-553
U-554
U-555
U-556
U-557
U-558
U-559
U-560
U-561
U-562
U-563
U-564
U-565
U-566
U-567
U-568
U-569
U-570
U-571
U-572
U-573
U-574
U-575
U-576
U-577
U-578
U-579
U-580
U-581
U-582
U-583
U-584
U-585
U-586
U-587
U-588
U-589
U-590
U-591
U-592
U-593
U-594
U-595
U-596
U-597
U-598
U-599
U-600
U-601
U-602
U-603
U-604
U-605
U-606
U-607
U-608
U-609
U-610
U-611
U-612
U-613
U-614
U-615
U-616
U-617
U-618
U-619
U-620
U-621
U-622
U-623
U-624
U-625
U-626
U-627
U-628
U-629
U-630
U-631
U-632
U-633
U-634
U-635
U-636
U-637
U-638
U-639
U-640
U-641
U-642
U-643
U-644
U-645
U-646
U-647
U-648
U-649
U-650
U-651
U-652
U-653
U-654
U-655
U-656
U-657
U-658
U-659
U-660
U-661
U-662
U-663
U-664
U-665
U-666
U-667
U-668
U-669
U-670
U-671
U-672
U-673
U-674
U-675
U-676
U-677
U-678
U-679
U-680
U-681
U-682
U-683
U-684
U-685
U-686
U-701
U-702
U-703
U-704
U-705
U-706
U-707
U-708
U-709
U-710
U-711
U-712
U-713
U-714
U-715
U-716
U-717
U-718
U-719
U-720
U-721
U-722
U-731
U-732
U-733
U-734
U-735
U-736
U-737
U-738
U-739
U-740
U-741
U-742
U-743
U-744
U-745
U-746
U-747
U-748
U-749
U-750
U-751
U-752
U-753
U-754
U-755
U-756
U-757
U-758
U-759
U-760
U-761
U-762
U-763
U-764
U-765
U-766
U-767
U-768
U-771
U-772
U-773
U-774
U-775
U-776
U-777
U-778
U-779
U-780
U-781
U-782
U-821
U-822
U-823
U-824
U-825
U-826
U-901
U-902
U-903
U-904
U-905
U-906
U-907
U-908
U-921
U-922
U-923
U-924
U-925
U-926
U-927
U-928
U-951
U-952
U-953
U-954
U-955
U-956
U-957
U-958
U-959
U-960
U-961
U-962
U-963
U-964
U-965
U-966
U-967
U-968
U-969
U-970
U-971
U-972
U-973
U-974
U-975
U-976
U-977
U-978
U-979
U-980
U-981
U-982
U-983
U-984
U-985
U-986
U-987
U-988
U-989
U-990
U-991
U-992
U-993
U-994
U-1051
U-1052
U-1053
U-1054
U-1055
U-1056
U-1057
U-1058
U-1101
U-1102
U-1131
U-1132
U-1161
U-1162
U-1191
U-1192
U-1193
U-1194
U-1195
U-1196
U-1197
U-1198
U-1199
U-1200
U-1201
U-1202
U-1203
U-1204
U-1205
U-1206
U-1207
U-1208
U-1209
U-1210

Type VIIC/41

U-292
U-293
U-294
U-295
U-296
U-297
U-298
U-299
U-300
U-317
U-318
U-319
U-320
U-321
U-322
U-323
U-324
U-325
U-326
U-327
U-328
U-329
U-330
U-687
U-688
U-689
U-691
U-723
U-724
U-827
U-828
U-929
U-930
U-931
U-932
U-995
U-996
U-997
U-998
U-999
U-1000
U-1001
U-1002
U-1003
U-1004
U-1005
U-1006
U-1007
U-1008
U-1009
U-1010
U-1011
U-1012
U-1013
U-1014
U-1015
U-1016
U-1017
U-1018
U-1019
U-1020
U-1021
U-1022
U-1023
U-1024
U-1025
U-1026
U-1027
U-1028
U-1029
U-1030
U-1031
U-1032
U-1063
U-1064
U-1065
U-1103
U-1104
U-1105
U-1106
U-1107
U-1108
U-1109
U-1110
U-1133
U-1134
U-1135
U-1136
U-1163
U-1164
U-1165
U-1166
U-1167
U-1168
U-1169
U-1170
U-1171
U-1172
U-1173
U-1174
U-1175
U-1176
U-1177
U-1178
U-1179
U-1271
U-1272
U-1273
U-1274
U-1275
U-1276
U-1277
U-1278
U-1279
U-1280
U-1281
U-1282
U-1301
U-1302
U-1303
U-1304
U-1305
U-1306
U-1307
U-1308

Type VIID

Type VIIF

Type IX

Type IXA

Type IXB

Type X (XB)

Originally intended as long-range minelayers, the Type X were later used as long-range cargo transports.

Type XI

The Type XI was a planned artillery boat, armed with four 128-mm guns in two twin turrets along with an Arado Ar 231 floatplane. Four boats were laid down in 1939 but were cancelled at the outbreak of WWII.

U-112
U-113
U-114
U-115

Type XIV

The Type XIV submarine was a shortened version of the Type IXD and used as tankers. Twenty-four were planned, but only 10 were commissioned; three (U-491 to U-494) were cancelled before completed and eleven were never laid down. This type was nicknamed Milchkuh (milk cow).

Type XVII

Type XVIIA

Type XVIIB

Twelve Type XVIIB submarines were planned, but only three were completed; three were cancelled at the end of the war before completion and six were cancelled in favor of the Type XXI submarine.

Type XVIIK

U-798

Type XVIII

The Type XVIII was a projected attack boat using the Walter propulsion system. Two boats were laid down in 1943, but construction was cancelled in March 1944.

U-796
U-797

Type XXI

Type XXIII

Midget submarines

Biber

Molch

Seehund (Type XVIIB)

The range of U-5000 to U-6442 was specifically allocated to German midget submarines. The following Seehund Type XXVIIB U-boats were entered into the Kriegsmarine registry as commissioned vessels

U-5001
U-5002
U-5003
U-5004
U-5005
U-5006
U-5007
U-5008
U-5009
U-5010
U-5011
U-5012
U-5013
U-5014
U-5015
U-5016
U-5017
U-5018
U-5019
U-5020
U-5021
U-5022
U-5023
U-5024
U-5025
U-5026
U-5027
U-5028
U-5029
U-5030
U-5031
U-5032
U-5033
U-5034
U-5035
U-5036
U-5037
U-5038
U-5039
U-5040
U-5041
U-5042
U-5043
U-5044
U-5045
U-5046
U-5047
U-5048
U-5049
U-5050
U-5051
U-5052
U-5053
U-5054
U-5055
U-5056
U-5057
U-5058
U-5059
U-5060
U-5061
U-5062
U-5063
U-5064
U-5065
U-5066
U-5067
U-5068
U-5069
U-5070
U-5071
U-5072
U-5073
U-5074
U-5075
U-5076
U-5077
U-5078
U-5079
U-5080
U-5081
U-5082
U-5083
U-5084
U-5085
U-5086
U-5087
U-5088
U-5089
U-5090
U-5091
U-5092
U-5093
U-5094
U-5095
U-5096
U-5097
U-5098
U-5099
U-5100
U-5101
U-5102
U-5103
U-5104
U-5105
U-5106
U-5107
U-5108
U-5109
U-5110
U-5111
U-5112
U-5113
U-5114
U-5115
U-5116
U-5117
U-5118
U-5251
U-5252
U-5253
U-5254
U-5255
U-5256
U-5257
U-5258
U-5259
U-5260
U-5261
U-5262
U-5263
U-5264
U-5265
U-5266
U-5267
U-5268
U-5269
U-5330

Foreign U-boats

Germany captured and commissioned 14 submarines from six countries into the Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Turkey

UA

United Kingdom

UB

Norway

Netherlands

France

Italy

Post–World War II U-boats

Type XXI

Wilhelm Bauer (ex U-2540)

Type XXIII

Hai (ex U-2365)
Hecht (ex U-2367)

Type 201

U-1 (S180)
U-2 (S181)
U-3 (S182)

Type 205

Type 206

Type 212A

External links

List of U-boats at U-boat.net

List of U-boats of Germany

World War I–era U-boats

U-boats

Type U 1

Type U 2

Type U 3

Type U 5

Type U 9

Type U 13

Type U 16

Type U 17

Type U 19

Type U 23

Type U 27

Type U 31

Type U 43

Type U 51

Type U 57

Type U 63

Type U 66 (Type UD)

Type UE I (Type U 71)

Type U 81

Type U 87

Type U 93

Type U 115

Type UE II (Type U 117)

Type U 127

Type Large MS (Type U 135)

Type U 139

Type U 142

Type U 151 (Deutschland-class submarine)

Type U 158

UB coastal U-boats

Type UB I

Type UB II

Type UB III

UC coastal minelaying U-boats

Type UC I

Type UC II

Type UC III

Foreign U-boats

World War II U-boats

Type I

Type II

Type IIA

Type IIB

Type IIC

Type IID

Type VII

Type VIIA

Type VIIB

Type VIIC

Type VIIC/41

Type VIID

Type VIIF

Type IX

Type IXA

Type IXB

Type IXC

Type IXC/40

Type IXD

Type X (XB)

Type XI

Type XIV

Type XVII

Type XVIIA

Type XVIIB

Type XVIIK

Type XVIII

Type XXI

Type XXIII

Midget submarines

Biber

Molch

Seehund (Type XVIIB)

Foreign U-boats

Post–World War II U-boats

Type XXI

Type XXIII

Type 201