German submarine U-407
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-407 |
| Ordered: | 16 October 1939 |
| Builder: | Danziger Werft, Danzig |
| Yard number: | 108 |
| Laid down: | 12 September 1940 |
| Launched: | 16 August 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 18 December 1941 |
| Fate: | Sunk 19 September 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 36°27′N 24°33′E / 36.450°N 24.550°E, by depth charges from HMS Troubridge, HMS Terpsichore and ORP Garland. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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German submarine U-407 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 12 September 1940 by Danziger Werft, Danzig as yard number 108, launched on 16 August 1941 and commissioned on 18 December 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Ernst-Ulrich Brüller.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-407 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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-407 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
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 18 December 1941, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla. However, within 3 months, she transferred for operations in the Mediterranean with 29th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In twelve patrols she sank three merchant ships – including the 19,648-ton RMS Viceroy of India on 11 November 1942 – for a total of 26,892 gross register tons (GRT), one merchant ship damaged of 6,207 GRT, two warships damaged (17,900 tons) and one more ship a total loss 7,176 GRT; however, some sources claim that the damaging of the HMS Newfoundland is to be attributed to the Italian submarine Aschianghi.[3]
Wolfpacks
U-407 took part in four wolfpacks, namely
- Vorwärts (25 August – 26 September 1942)
- Tiger (26–28 September 1942)
- Delphin (4–10 November 1942)
- Wal (10–15 November 1942)
Fate
U-407 was sunk on 19 September 1944 in the Mediterranean in position, south of Milos, 36°27′N 24°33′E / 36.450°N 24.550°ECoordinates: 36°27′N 24°33′E / 36.450°N 24.550°E, by depth charges from HMS Troubridge, HMS Terpsichore and ORP Garland. There were five crew members killed.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 November 1942 | Viceroy of India |  United Kingdom |
19,627 | Sunk |
| 23 July 1943 | HMS Newfoundland |  Royal Navy |
8,800 | Damaged |
| 28 November 1943 | HMS Birmingham | Royal Navy |
9,100 | Damaged |
| 27 February 1944 | Rod el Farag | .svg.png){kind=small} Egypt |
55 | Sunk |
| 29 February 1944 | Ensis | United Kingdom |
6,207 | Damaged |
| 16 April 1944 | Meyer London |  United States |
7,210 | Sunk |
| 16 April 1944 | Thomas G. Masaryk | United States |
7,176 | Total Loss |
See also
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-407". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Uomini sul fondo : storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini a oggi. Milano: Mondadori. p. 362. ISBN 8804505370.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-407". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 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.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-407". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 407". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.