German submarine U-307
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-307 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Flender Werke, Lübeck |
| Yard number: | 307 |
| Laid down: | 5 November 1941 |
| Launched: | 30 September 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 18 November 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk by depth charges, 29 April 1945[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
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| Operations: | 13 patrols |
| Victories: | 2 vessels (7,226 GRT) |
German submarine U-307 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The U-boat was laid down on 5 November 1941, and commissioned on 18 November 1942.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-307 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-307 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
Despite carrying out 13 war patrols between July 1943 and April 1945, U-307 sank only two vessels; the 7,176-ton American Liberty ship SS William S. Thayer on 30 April 1944, fifty miles south of Bear Island, and the 50-ton Norwegian Army motor boat Lennox in Van Mijenfjorden, Spitsbergen, on 18 August 1944.
In September 1944, together with the supply ship Carl J. Busch, U-307 transported the men of Operation Haudegen, a German military meteorological mission, to Svalbard.
Wolfpacks
U-307 took part in twelve wolfpacks, namely.
- Wiking (5 September – 8 October 1943)
- Monsun (3 October – 23 November 1943)
- Eisenbart (28 October – 8 December 1943)
- Boreas (28 February – 10 March 1944)
- Thor (17–26 March 1944)
- Donner (17–20 April 1944)
- Donner & Keil (20 April – 3 May 1944)
- Grimm (31 May - 6 June 1944)
- Trutz (8 June – 10 July 1944)
- Rasmus (6–13 February 1945)
- Hagen (13–21 March 1945)
- Faust (21–29 April 1945)
Fate
U-307 was sunk on 29 April 1945 in the Barents Sea near Murmansk, Russia, in position 69°24′N 33°44′E / 69.400°N 33.733°ECoordinates: 69°24′N 33°44′E / 69.400°N 33.733°E by depth charges from the British Loch class frigate HMS Loch Insh. There were 37 dead and 14 survivors.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Displacement | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 April 1944 | William S. Thayer |  United States |
7,176 | Sunk |
| 18 August 1944 | Lennox |  Norway |
50 | Sunk |
References
- ↑ Kemp 1999, p. 254.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-307". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-307". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 307". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.