German submarine U-215 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Longer by nearly 10m than the standard VIIC U-boat, a total of six Type VIID were built (U-213 — U-218).
The prominent mine silo – aft of the conning tower – stored a total of 15 SMA (moored, magnetic) naval mines in 5 vertical tubes (3 mines apiece).
Mines were loaded into the top of the mine tubes, and launched out the bottom.

U-215 had her keel was laid down November 15, 1940 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 647.
She was launched on October 9, 1941, and commissioned on November 22, 1941 with Kapitänleutnant Fritz Hoeckner in command.

U-215 was sunk on her first patrol on July 3, 1942 by British warship HMS Le Tiger while on a mission to lay mines in Boston Harbor
after attacking and sinking the U.S. liberty ship Alexander Macomb, part of an Allied convoy.

The wreck of U-215 was discovered in 2004 at a depth of 270ft (82m) about 130 miles (209km) SSW of Shelburne, Nova Scotia;
she was the first U-boat wreck discovered in Canadian waters.
http://www.richiekohler.com/project-files/discovery-of-the-u-215/

Revell of Germany created a finely-detailed VIID kit in 1/144 scale, but it is now discontinued.
Rather than coveting this kit and making it a "shelf queen," I decided to take the plunge and build it.
Through some careful investigation, I was able to locate several detail sets which should make this a very interesting build.