Construction
U-43 was ordered for the Kriegsmarine on 21 November 1936 (as part of Plan Z and in violation of the Treaty of Versailles). Her keel was laid down on 15 August 1938 by AG Weser, Bremen as Werk 946. She was launched on 23 May 1939 and commissioned on 26 August of that same year under the command of Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Ambrosius.
Like all Type IXA submarines, U-43 had two MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines that put out 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) as well as two SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors that produced 1,000 hp (746 kW) and allowed her to travel at up to 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) while surfaced and 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) submerged. She had a range of 19,425 nmi (35,975 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) while on the surface and 144 nmi (267 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) while submerged. U-43 had six torpedo tubes, (four in the bow, two in the stern). She also carried a total of twenty-two 533 mm (21 in) torpedoes and had a 105 mm/45 deck gun and 110 rounds. She was equipped with one 37 mm (1.5 in) and one 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. U-43 had a crew of 55 men; however, she could hold up to 56 crew members at any given time. After being commissioned and deployed, U-43 was stationed in the German port city of Wilhelmshaven.
Read more about this topic: German Submarine U-43 (1939)
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