Laid down in Bremen and completed in June 1943, the boat was a long-range Type IX, with four bow and two stern torpedo tubes and a Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze cable-towed lookout gyroglider.
Igor B. Bensen (April 1, 1917 – February 10, 2000) was the founder of the Bensen Aircraft, which produced a successful line of gyrogliders (rotor kites) and autogyros.