1/35 German Type XXIII U-Boat Coastal Submarine

This is a plastic model kit, which comes unassembled and unpainted. So glue, model paints and other basic modelling tools are additionally required.

The Type XXIII was a small coastal submarine developed by the Germans simultaneously with the larger Type XXI. Work began in late 1942 and used the same basic hull design of the more advanced Type XXII, which was never completed. The submarine was to be completed in sections at different factories, which would then be transported to the shipyard for final assembly. One of the design considerations was that the submarine was small enough that it could be transported by rail. As a result the submerged displacement was only 258 tons, power was provided a 572 hp MWM 6-cylinder diesel engine and 572 hp AEG electric motor. A small 35 hp "creeping" motor was also fitted, all three motors drove a single shaft. Speed was 9.7 knots surfaced and 12.5 knots submerged, with a range of 4,800 kilometers at 8 knots surfaced. Armament was 2 bow torpedo tubes with 2 torpedoes. The Type XXIII was built in Germany, France, Italy and Russia, with a total of 61 completed by the end of the war. However only 6 boats went on was patrol, of these U-2336 sunk the last merchant ship in European waters of WWII, on 7 May 1945.