German submarine U-374
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-374 |
| Ordered: | 23 September 1939[1] |
| Builder: | Howaldtswerke, Kiel |
| Yard number: | 5[1] |
| Laid down: | 18 December 1939[1] |
| Launched: | 10 May 1941[1] |
| Commissioned: | 21 June 1941[1] |
| Fate: | Sunk 12 January 1942 in the western Mediterranean east of Cape Spartivento, in position 37°50′N 16°00′E / 37.833°N 16.000°ECoordinates: 37°50′N 16°00′E / 37.833°N 16.000°E by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Unbeaten. 42 dead and 1 survivor[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
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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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| Range: | |
| Test depth: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
| Identification codes: | M 45 441 |
| Commanders: |
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German submarine U-374 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 23 September 1939. Her keel was laid down by Howaldtswerke in Kiel on 18 December 1939, she was launched on 10 May 1941 and formally commissioned into the Kriegsmarine on 21 June 1941 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Unno von Fischel.
U-374 had a short career, carrying out three patrols. During these she sank one merchant ship, the British Rose Schiaffino and two auxiliary warships, the naval trawler Lady Shirley and naval yacht HMY Rosabelle.
U-374 was sunk on 12 January 1942 in the western Mediterranean east of Cape Spartivento, in position 37°50′N 16°00′E / 37.833°N 16.000°E, by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Unbeaten. 42 of her crew were killed; there was one survivor.[2]
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-374 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 460/8–27 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).[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-374 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]
Service history
First patrol
29 September 1941 (Kiel) – 11 November 1941 (Brest)
Second patrol
6 December 1941 (Brest) – 14 December 1941 (La Spezia)
Third patrol
18 December 1941 (La Spezia) – 12 January 1942 (sunk)[1]
Wolfpacks
U-374 took part in one wolfpack, namely.
- Mordbrenner (16 October – 2 November 1941)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 1941 | Rose Schiaffino |  United Kingdom |
3,349 | Sunk |
| 11 December 1941 | HMS Lady Shirley |  Royal Navy |
477 | Sunk |
| 11 December 1941 | HMY Rosabelle | Royal Navy |
515 | Sunk |
References
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. 59. 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-374". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 374". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.