German submarine U-337
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-337 |
| Ordered: | 21 November 1940 |
| Builder: | Nordseewerke, Emden |
| Yard number: | 209 |
| Laid down: | 1 April 1941 |
| Launched: | 26 March 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 6 May 1942 |
| Fate: | Listed as missing, 3 January 1943[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Test depth: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record[1][2] | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | One patrol: 24 December 1942 – 3 January 1943 |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-337 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.[1]
The submarine was laid down on 1 April 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden, launched on 26 March 1942, and commissioned on 6 May 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Ruwiedel.[1]
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-337 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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).[3]
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).[3] 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-337 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.[3]
Armament
FLAK weaponry
U-337 was mounted with two 2cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield on the upper Wintergaren.[4] The M 43U mount was used on a number of U-boats (U-249, U-250, U-278, U-250, U-475, U-853, U-1058, U-1109, U-1023, U-1105, U-1165 and U-1306).
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2cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield.
Service history
After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-337 was transferred to the 6th U-boat Flotilla based at Saint-Nazaire in France for front-line service.[1] After sailing from Kiel on 24 December 1942, the U-boat sailed north and then west into the Atlantic south of Iceland.[5] Her last radio report, on 3 January 1943, gave her position as 63°N 12°W / 63°N 12°WCoordinates: 63°N 12°W / 63°N 12°W. The U-boat was never heard from again. There is no explanation for its loss.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC U-boat U-337". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by U-337". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Base on war-time photographs.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-337 from 24 Dec 1942 to 3 Jan 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-337". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 337". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.