German submarine U-1231

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German submarine U-1231 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during World War II. It displaced about 1,144 tons on the surface and 1,257 tons submerged, was 76.76 meters long, and could reach 18.3 knots on the surface and 7.3 knots underwater. It carried six torpedo tubes (22 torpedoes), a 10.5 cm deck gun, and anti-aircraft guns, with a crew of 4 officers and 44 enlisted men.

Ordered in 1941, U-1231 was laid down in March 1943, launched in November 1943, and commissioned in February 1944 under Kapitän zur See Hermann Lessing. It trained with the 31st U-boat Flotilla and began front-line service with the 33rd Flotilla in October 1944. The boat completed two patrols but did not sink any ships, with missions from October 1944 to January 1945 and again in late April to May 1945.

After Germany surrendered, U-1231 was handed over as war booty to the Soviet Union. It was renamed N-26 in 1945, commissioned into the Soviet Navy in February 1946, and later renamed B-26 (1949), KPB-33 (1952), and UTS-23 (1956). It was decommissioned in December 1955, struck in January 1968, and scrapped later that year in Riga.