Type IX-class Submarine

Ships in class: 193

Besides the Type VII , the much larger Type IX was the second important submarine class of the Kriegsmarine. Built for long range operations, those boats operated around the world - the South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and even the Pacific was their operational area, but they were also used in the North Atlantic, especially during Operation Drumbeat (Paukenschlag) - the U-Boat offensive at the American coast. Caused by their bigger size, those class of ships was not so maneuverable than the Type VII , making them more vulnerable. There were several subtypes of the Type IX (A,B,C,D) the last one slightly bigger than the rest and also used as transport submarines to Japan.