A detailed model kit of the German type VII U-boat. A new mould has been used to provide new long-hull version with detailed conning tower and mine silos. Detailed 20mm anti-aircraft and 88mm deck guns are supplied, along with a display stand and decals for 6 submarines.
85 parts. Model length 530mm

Basic paints required: Revell Nos. 57, 69, 77 & 92

One of the most important weapons of sea-warfare was the mine. The German Navy used special submarines to deliver this weapon right on to the enemies navigational routes. Apart from the attack submarine types II, VII and IX, special minelayers designated XB with a gross of 1,760 tons that were specially designed for long distance operations were also used for these tasks. Whilst the smaller submarines could only carry mines that passed through the torpedo tubes, only the XB type submarines could carry SMA type Cable Anchored Mines. Due to her unwieldiness and armament of only two stern torpedo tubes they had no great operational value and only eight of these submarines were built.

The easiest way to further increase the transport capacity of SMA mines was to convert the successful Type VII into a minelayer without losing the positive characteristics of the basic design. In order to achieve this, a further hull section of 31 ft 9ins in length was inserted directly behind the conning tower, whereby the total length increased to 250 ft. Five vertical silos were installed in this section, each of which could hold three mines. The tubes were always filled with water and not part of the pressurised hull section. After being armed, the mines would be discharged downwards from the tubes below into a depth of up to 800 ft. Six submarines of the newly designated Type VII D, U-213 to U-218, were built by the Germania Shipyard in Kiel and entered service between 30 August 1941 and 31 January 1942. They had a displacement of 965 tons on the surface and 1080 tons submerged. The hull extension also enabled an increase in the fuel capacity which extended the maximum range from 8,550 nm at 10 kt in the Type VII C (surfaced) to 11,200 nm at 10 kt in the Type VII D. The slight reduction in maximum speed did play an important role. Because the submarines were otherwise identical to the Type VII C, they could in difference to the larger minelayers be thrown into the Battle of the Atlantic and actually, out of a total of 31 missions carried out by Type VII D submarines against the enemy, only 9 mine laying missions were completed.

The totally changed state of war after 1943 made the conversion of all German submarines necessary. The remaining Type VII D were stripped of their useless 8,8 cm guns and received more anti-aircraft weapons. Even a second anti-air weapons platform which covered the first two mine silos was added. U-218 at least was later modified with a snorkel.

Ten ships with a total of 42,622 t have to be credited to the six U-boats. Further ships were damaged. In contrast stands a total loss of five sunken Type VII D submarines. Only U-218 survived the war and sailed into Bergen, Norway on the 08 May 1945. She finally sank whilst on tow by “HMS Southdown” within the framework of “Operation Deadlight” on the 04 December 1945.