German submarine U-1051

Summary

German submarine U-1051 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 8 February 1943 by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel as yard number 685, launched on 3 February 1944 and commissioned on 4 March 1944 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich von Holleben.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1051
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number685
Laid down8 February 1943
Launched3 February 1944
Commissioned4 March 1944
FateSunk on 26 January 1945 in the Irish Sea in position 53°39′N 05°23′W / 53.650°N 5.383°W / 53.650; -5.383, by ramming and depth charges from Royal Navy frigates HMS Aylmer, HMS Calder, HMS Bentinck, HMS Manners.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
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)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 50 396
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinrich von Holleben
  • 4 March 1944 – 26 January 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 28 December 1944 – 26 January 1945
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk
    (1,152 GRT)
  • 1 warship total loss
    (1,300 tons)

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-1051 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-1051 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history edit

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 4 March 1944, followed by active service on 1 January 1945 as part of the 11th Flotilla and was sunk just three weeks later on her first patrol.

In one patrol she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 1,152 gross register tons (GRT) and one warship total loss for 1,300 tons.

Wolfpacks edit

U-1051 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate edit

U-1051 was sunk on 26 January 1945 in the Irish Sea in position 53°39′N 05°23′W / 53.650°N 5.383°W / 53.650; -5.383, by ramming and depth charges from Royal Navy frigates HMS Aylmer, HMS Calder, HMS Bentinck, and HMS Manners. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
21 January 1945 Galatea   Norway 1,152 Sunk
26 January 1945 HMS Manners   Royal Navy 1,300 Total loss

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. "The Type VIIC boat U-1051". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1051". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.

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.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • 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.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-1051". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.