Das new boat from Das Werk
U-Boat SM U-9 - German WWI Petroleum-Electric U-Boat
1/72nd scale
Injection moulded plastic kit
Item Number: DW72001
Product Details:
Detail of this kit:
Length: 804mm
Beam: 83mm
Height: 150mm
Parts: 164
Rivets on the kit: approximately 7000 (Fun fact)
Das Werk is making the Type U-9 - German WWI Petroleum-Electric U-Boat in 72nd scale injection moulded plastic - the first of this type in this material. We have some information on the original ships and then the kit for you to ruminate over...
The Subject:
SM U9 (Seiner Majestät U-Boot) was a petroleum-electric submarine of the German Imperial Navy of WW1. The double-hulled U-Boat was 57.38 m long, 6.00 m wide, had a draft of 3.13 m and a displacement of 493 tons above and 611 tons underwater. It could dive to a maximum of 50 m in about 50–90 seconds.
It was powered by 1000 HP petroleum motors on the surface and by 1160 HP electric motors while submerged. With these U9 can speed up to 14.2 knots above water and 8.1 knots underwater. The armament consisted of six torpedoes that could be fired through two bow and two stern tubes.
The U9 was commissioned as the first ship in its class in July 1908 and launched in February 1910. On September 22nd, 1914 U9 sank the three British armoured cruisers HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy one after the other and on October 15th the British armoured cruiser HMS Hawke under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Weddigen. After that, the boat U9 was allowed to carry an Iron Cross on the tower. Apart from U9, only the small cruiser SMS Emden received this honour during WW1.
A WWI-era propaganda postcard depicting two victories of U-9.
U9 undertook a total of seven combat cruises and sank five warships with 44,173 tons and 13 merchant ships with 8,636 GRT. No other boat sank more warships during the First World War.
After the war, the boat was delivered on November 26, 1918, to Great Britain and in 1919 it was scrapped in Morecambe, Lancashire.
Research of the type:
At the beginning of a new model, there is always a pure idea. Immediately after the idea, we have to think about the feasibility. This also includes researching suitable reference material. In this case, there was little information about the submarine. The data and drawings that we found were partly inconsistent and conflicted with the researched images.
During their research, the Das Werk team learned a lot about the imperial submarines of this type and would like to share this information with you. The first edition of the kit, therefore, contains a 100-page softcover book with a lot of background information and pictures of the U-9, its missions, the U-boat war in World War I in general, and the creation of the kit. This book is included with all kits of the first edition. Anyone who is only interested in the story, but not in the kit, can also purchase the book individually.
The team of divers Neil Richmond and James Hartley measured the wreckage of SM U-12 of the same type. That boat sank roundabout 25 kilometres from Eyemouth at Scottish coast and is about 50 meters deep on the seabed. We were able to incorporate these first-hand results into the development and ultimately the production of the model kit. Here is a preview of this book from Das Werk
The new kit from Das Werk:
The new kit is the first U9 class ever done in 1/72nd scale in injection moulded plastic. Research has been meticulously undertaken to give the modeller the most accurate shapes and dimensions of the real thing.
CAD drawings of the kit
The kit features highly detailed surfaces with realistic rivet details
Optional sail railings with fine details on both sides
Open or closed hatches and torpedo doors
Optional upper rudders and rigging points on masts, the kit includes turnbuckles for advanced modellers
A positionable exhaust stack for when the sub is running on its combustion engines is included in the box
Display stand included with the names on plaques for all 4 ships of this class
Some of the kit's sprues:
Decals provided in the kit:
Some of the finer details of these boats...
There are four marking choices provided for in this kit from the S.M. Unterseeboot U9 Class
These ships can be built:
U-9, U-10, U11 & U-12
You can find out more information on this kit, or where to pre-order it from the Das Werk Website
