I’d like to share photos of my Type XXI engineer’s manual. I purchased it about 15 years ago, and only recently have tried to do more research on the information that it might contain. There is certainly no shortage of published and online information about the Type XXI. It has a fascinating story of development and production as a Wunderwaffe, though it was short lived and too late. My manual is interesting in part because it is incomplete. It appears that different mechanical and electrical components were built in stages, and once completed, diagrams were inserted into the manual and dated. The dates run from January 1944 until October 1944 but after that , no more entries. The back portion of the manual just has blank pages. Based upon what I’ve read, the Allied bombing campaign likely put an end to its production and for those that were further along in assembly, little time to work out the kinks in sea trials.

I am hoping members more knowledgeable than myself can answer a question for me. Would my manual be for a sub that was already commissioned and assigned a number (even though it was unfinished), and if so, does that number appear (maybe in abbreviated form) on the front of the manual? I’ve read where 118 subs of this type were commissioned but only two were put to sea right at war’s end. Any help with answering this would be appreciated, as well as comments or questions. Also, I have a lot of detailed photos of the manual that I can post if anyone is interested. Thanks.

Tom