German submarine U-1004

Summary

German submarine U-1004 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 January 1943 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 204, launched on 27 October 1943 and commissioned on 16 December 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hartmuth Schimmelpfennig.

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1004.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1004
Ordered14 October 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss AG, Hamburg
Yard number204
Laid down15 January 1943
Launched27 October 1943
Commissioned16 December 1943
Fate
General characteristics (VIIC/41)[1]
Class and typeType VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement44-52 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 34 668
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hartmuth Schimmelpfennig[2]
  • 16 December 1943 – January 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Rudolf Hinz[3]
  • January – 9 May 1945
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 29 August – 23 October 1944
  • b. 26 – 27 October 1944
  • c. 2 – 11 January 1945
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 27 January – 20 March 1945
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk
    (1,313 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (980 tons)

Design edit

Like all Type VIIC/41 U-boats, U-1004 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.23 m (220 ft 7 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in).[4] The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged six-cylinder four-stroke 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) and two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. The boat was capable of operating at a depth of 250 metres (820 ft).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). 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).[4] U-1004 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA or TMB Naval mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. Its complement was between forty-four and sixty.[4]

Service history edit

The boat's service career began on 16 December 1943 with the 31st Training Flotilla, followed by active service with 7th Flotilla on 1 August 1944, then 11th Flotilla on 1 November 1944. U-1004 took part in no wolfpacks. U-1004 was sunk by naval gunfire on 1 December 1945 in the North Atlantic, in position 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W / 56.167; -10.083, as part of Operation Deadlight.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[5]
22 February 1945 Alexander Kennedy   United Kingdom 1,313 Sunk
22 February 1945 HMCS Trentonian   Royal Canadian Navy 980 Sunk

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type VIIC/41". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hartmuth Schimmelpfennig". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Rudolf Hinz (German Cross in Gold)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1004". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

Bibliography edit

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.