German submarine U-741
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-741 |
| Ordered: | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
| Laid down: | 30 April 1942 |
| Launched: | 4 February 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 10 April 1943 |
| Fate: | Sunk, 15 August 1944 |
| 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[1] | |
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| Victories: | 1 warship total loss (1,625 tons) |
German submarine U-741 was a Type VIIC U-boat built by F Schichau GmbH of Danzig and commissioned on 10 April 1943.[1]
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-741 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 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).[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-741 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
On 15 August 1944, she attacked convoy FTM-69 and torpedoed the Royal Navy Tank Landing ship HMS LST-404, 35 miles South East of St. Catherine's Point causing extensive damage and seven fatalities. Although the vessel was beached, she later broke in two and was declared a total loss.[3] Convoy escorts counter-attacked; the corvette HMS Orchis is credited with the destruction of U-741. Orchis rescued one survivor.[1]
The wreck was identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney near the position given by the Allies in 2000.
In five patrols U-741 accounted for the total loss of one warship, for a total of 1,625 tons.
Wolfpacks
U-741 took part in six wolfpacks, namely.
- Coronel 1 (14–17 December 1943)
- Sylt (18–23 December 1943)
- Rügen 2 (23–28 December 1943)
- Rügen 1 (28 December 1943 – 7 January 1944)
- Rügen (7–14 January 1944)
- Preussen (7–22 March 1944)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 August 1944 | HMS LST-404 |  Royal Navy |
1,625 | Total loss |
References
- 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-741". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Tank landing ship of the LST class:HMS LST 404". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-741". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-741". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
Coordinates: 50°02′N 00°36′W / 50.033°N 0.600°W