IWM example

During the Second World War, the Biber was a German midget submarine, with two externally mounted 21-inch (53cm) torpedoes. Its name is German for "beaver". She was the smallest submarine in the Kriegsmarine, but her hasty development in spring 1944 (incorporating developments from a captured Welman submarine) to attack coastal shipping and help meet the threat of an Allied invasion of Europe and the resulting basic technical flaws, plus the inadequate training of her crews, meant she never posed a real threat to either of these, despite 324 being delivered. (One of her few successes was against the Alan A. Dale).

Surviving examples in British museums

IWM example

There are surviving examples in British museums, including at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport [1] and at the main Imperial War Museum, London. The IWM example is Biber No.90 and was found sinking 49 miles NE of Dover on 29th December 1944 (only 9 days after the first Biber operation of 29-30 August, against ships of the invasion fleet in the Bay of the Seine - as usual, no significant success was achieved), its crewman having failed to properly close the engine exhaust system and so died from carbon monoxide poisoning. HMS Ready took it in tow and, even when it sank close to Dover harbour entrance, the Royal Navy still raised it and subjected it to extensive trials.

Technical specifications

IWM example

• Crew - One
• Dimensions -

Length 8.9m Width 2.7m Height - 1.6m Weight - 6 tons

• Engine and Speed (Surface) One 32hp Otto petrol engine, 6.5 knots
• Engine and Speed (Submerged) One 13hp electric motor, 5.3 knots

References

• Label to Biber No 90 at the IWM