German submarine U-341
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-341 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Nordseewerke, Emden |
| Yard number: | 213 |
| Laid down: | 28 October 1941 |
| Launched: | 10 October 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 28 November 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk by a Canadian aircraft, September 1943[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[2][3] | |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-341 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She did not sink or damage any ships.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-341 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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 460/8–27 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).[4]
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).[4] 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-341 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.[4]
Service history
The submarine was laid down on 28 October 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 213, launched on 20 August 1942 and commissioned on 28 November 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Dietrich Epp.
U-341 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, for training and then with the 3rd flotilla for operations from 1 June.
1st patrol
U-341 sailed from Kiel on 25 May 1943, and out into the Atlantic Ocean via the Iceland / Faroe Islands gap. Having moved all over the central north Atlantic without encountering any shipping, she arrived at La Pallice in occupied France, on 10 July.[5]
2nd patrol and loss
For her second foray, U-341 departed La Pallice on 31 August 1943 and headed north. On 19 September, she was sunk by depth charges dropped by a Canadian B-24 Liberator of No. 10 Squadron RCAF southwest of Iceland.[6][1][7]
Fifty men died; there were no survivors
Wolfpacks
U-341 took part in one wolfpack, namely.
- Leuthen (15–19 September 1943)
References
- 1 2 Kemp 1999, p. 146.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-341 from 25 May to 10 July 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ↑ Hofmann, Markus. "U 241". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). 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.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. p. 214. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- 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-341". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 341". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Coordinates: 58°34′N 25°30′W / 58.567°N 25.500°W