German submarine U-D5

U-D5 was a O 21-class submarine. The boat was laid down as the Dutch submarine K XXVII and renamed O 27 but was captured during German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II and commissioned in the Kriegsmarine. The ship survived the war and was returned to the Netherlands were it served under her old name until 1959.

Ship history
The submarine was ordered on 8 July 1938 and laid down on 3 August 1939 as K XXVII at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam. During construction she was renamed O 27. Following the German invasion of 10 May 1940, the not yet launched O 27 was captured at the yard by the invading forces.

The Germans decided to complete her. The launch took place on 26 September 1941. She served in the Kriegsmarine as the U-D5 and was commissioned on 30 January 1942.

From November 1941 to August 1942 U-D5 served as training boat in Kiel when attached to the 5th Flotilla. From August 1942 until January 1943 the boat is stationed at Lorient in occupied France and attached to the 10th Flotilla.

When patrolling west of Freetown U-D5 spots and sinks the 7628 BRT British freighter Primrose Hill on 29 October 1942.

January 1943 the boat is transferred to Bergen in occupied Norway and attached to the U-boot Abwehr Schule to be used as school boat until May 1945. U-D5 surrendered on 9 May 1945. U-D5 was planned to be scuttled as part of Operation Deadlight but was recognized as a former Dutch boat and is returned to the Dutch navy. 13 July 1945 she was commissioned in the Dutch navy as O 27.

She served in the Dutch navy until she was stricken on 14 November 1959. She was stationed in Den Helder were she served as torpedo trial boat, piggy boat, and training vessel. In 1961 she was broken up.