Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:46:44-2:47:53

U-class survivors and the value of Lembit-style minelayers

No British U-class boat survives, while Lembit illustrates a minelaying capability Britain could have used more extensively.

LembitMaltaMediterranean CampaignNaval Mine WarfareU Class Submarines
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Question

Do any British U-class submarines survive, and should Britain have ordered Lembit-type minelayers?

Short answer

No U-class survives; additional Lembit-style boats could have made British offensive minelaying in the Mediterranean much more potent.

Notes

Lembit is the nearest surviving analogue but is a purpose-built minelayer rather than a U-class submarine. More boats of that type would have allowed British submarines based at Malta to place minefields off Italian ports, compounding the pressure created by fleet and air attacks such as Taranto.