Mirage Hobby U-Boat U-803 Type IXC-40 Model Kit

Type IXC vessels, after introducing several design changes, were called type IXC/39. Complete standardizing of valves and automated production of hull sections led to reduction of construction time to just 11 months per vessel. Such submarines were called type IXC/40. They also incorporated a change in the hull structure. In order to increase speed of emergency submersion, 4 containers for reserve torpedoes were removed from the bow section. This allowed to streamline the upper deck over 14 m, which created the characteristic narrow area. The conning tower was altered to type IV but without the 105 mm gun. Submarines with shipyard nos. 710-715, tactical nos.U-801 to -806, built by Deschimag AG Weser-Seebeck (Wasermünde) featured the narrow bow (according to some publications only the U-804,-805) and T-IV type conning tower without the 105 mm gun. The U-176 was launched in April 1943 and commissioned on 7 September 1943. She served as a training ship in the 4 Submarine Flotilla under Captain Karl Schimpf. The submarine was based at Swinemünde and it was there that she was surprised by an air attack on 11 April 1944. 4 crew members were killed and 5 wounded. Leaving Swinemünde on 27 April 1944 the vessel hit a mine and sank. 9 crew members were killed. The wreck was raised on 9 August 1944 and the U-803 was decommissioned.