Type IXA submarine

The Type IXA submarine was a sub-class of the Type IX submarine built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine between 1937 and 1938. These U-boats were designed between 1935 and 1936 and were intended to be fairly large ocean-going submarines. The inspiration for the Type IXA came from the Type I submarine, which had a similar diving depth and identical submerged horsepower. Two of the eight Type IXA submarines built (U-37 and U-38) would become the sixth and tenth most successful U-boats that saw service in World War II, sinking 53 and 35 ships respectively. All of the Type IXA submarines were sunk fairly early in the war except for U-37 and U-38, which were scuttled in May 1945 to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Allies.