German submarine U-1060

Summary

German submarine U-1060 was a Type VIIF submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1060
Ordered25 August 1941
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number694
Laid down7 July 1942
Launched8 March 1943
Commissioned15 May 1943
FateGrounded on 27 October 1944
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIF submarine
Displacement
  • 1,084 tonnes (1,067 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,181 t (1,162 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.91 m (16 ft 1 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
  • 16.9–17.6 knots (31.3–32.6 km/h; 19.4–20.3 mph) surfaced
  • 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 14,700 nmi (27,200 km; 16,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 75 nmi (139 km; 86 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph)submerged
Test depth
  • 200 m (660 ft)
  • Calculated crush depth: 220–240 m (720–790 ft)
Crew4 officers, 42 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 52 184
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Herbert Brammer
  • 15 May 1943 – 27 October 1944
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 14 – 16 December 1943
  • b. 17 – 23 December 1943
  • c. 29 December 1943 – 7 January 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 18 – 27 January 1944
  • b. 1 – 5 February 1944
  • c. 6 February 1944
  • d. 9 February 1944
  • e. 10 – 12 February 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 28 March – 6 April 1944
  • b. 10 – 27 April 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 13 – 20 May 1944
  • b. 23 – 28 May 1944
  • c. 30 May 1944
  • d. 31 May 1944
  • e. 1 – 3 June 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 20 – 24 June 1944
  • b. 24 – 26 June 1944
  • c. 30 June – 2 July 1944
  • d. 3 – 5 July 1944
  • e. 7 July 1944
  • f. 8 – 10 July 1944
  • g. 11 July 1944
  • h. 12 July 1944
  • i. 13 – 15 July 1944
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 7 – 9 October 1944
  • b. 12 – 17 October 1944
  • c. 22 – 25 October 1944
  • d. 26 – 27 October 1944
Victories: None

U-1060 was one of four Type VIIF torpedo transport submarines, which could carry up to 40 torpedoes,[1] and were used to re-supply other U-boats at sea. U-1060 commissioned on 15 May 1943, served from 15 May 1943 until 27 October 1944 with 5th U-boat Flotilla, a training unit.

Design edit

As one of the four German Type VIIF submarines, U-1060 had a displacement of 1,084 tonnes (1,067 long tons) when at the surface and 1,181 tonnes (1,162 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 77.63 m (254 ft 8 in), a pressure hull length of 60.40 m (198 ft 2 in), a beam of 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.91 m (16 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder 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 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 shaft horsepower (760 PS; 560 kW) 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 16.9–17.6 knots (31.3–32.6 km/h; 19.4–20.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 75 nautical miles (139 km; 86 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 14,700 nautical miles (27,200 km; 16,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-1060 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 various anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 and 60.[2]

Service history edit

U-1060 did not conduct any offensive patrols. Between December 1943 and October 1944 she made six voyages transporting torpedoes from the naval base in Kiel to ports in German-occupied Norway.[3]

On 27 October 1944 Fleet Air Arm Fireflies and Barracudas from the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable attacked U-1060 with rockets and depth charges, and the submarine ran aground on the Norwegian island of Fleina south of Brønnøysund.[4]

On the morning of 29 October 1944, two Liberator C Mk V heavy bombers of the Czechoslovak-manned No. 311 Squadron RAF from RAF Tain in Scotland attacked the grounded submarine with wing-mounted SAP60 semi-armour piercing rocket projectiles (RP's).[5] Liberator FL949/Y led by Flg Off Josef Pavelka hit her with seven RP's. The rocket projectile sight aboard Liberator BZ723/H led by Sqn Ldr Alois Šedivý failed, but its crew managed to hit the submarine with another eight RP's. BZ723/H also dropped four depth charges, two of which straddled U-1060 abaft her conning tower.[6]

Finally two Halifax heavy bombers of No. 502 Squadron RAF depth charged the submarine.[5][7] 12 of U-1060's crew died and 43 survived.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Gröner 1991, p. 104.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 67.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-1060". uboat.net. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  4. ^ Vančata 2013, p. 69.
  5. ^ a b Osolsobě 1990, pp. 200–206.
  6. ^ Vančata 2013, pp. 69–70.
  7. ^ Vančata 2013, p. 70.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIF boat U-1060". uboat.net. Retrieved 30 November 2009.

Bibliography edit

  • Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939–45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis: 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.
  • Osolsobě, Jiří (1990). Zbylo nás devět (in Czech) (2nd ed.). Prague: Naše vojsko. pp. 200–206. ISBN 80-206-0207-0., the author was the second pilot in Liberator FL949/Y
  • Vančata, Pavel (2013). 311 Squadron. Sandomierz: Stratus, for Mushroom Model Publications. pp. 66–70. ISBN 978-83-61421-43-6.

65°24′N 12°0′E / 65.400°N 12.000°E / 65.400; 12.000