German submarine U-351

Summary

German submarine U-351 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-351
Ordered9 October 1939
BuilderFlensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg
Yard number470
Laid down4 March 1940
Launched27 March 1941
Commissioned20 June 1941
FateScuttled, off northern Germany on 5 May 1945. Broken up in 1948
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
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)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 33 940
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Hause
  • 20 June – 14 December 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Rosenberg
  • 15 December 1941 – 24 August 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Zimmermann
  • 25 August 1942 – 25 May 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Götz Roth
  • 26 May – 5 October 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Wicke
  • 13 December 1943 – 30 June 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Jürgen Schley
  • 1 July 1944 – 19 March 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Hugo Strehl
  • 20 March – 5 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was scuttled on 5 May 1945 in northern Germany.

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-351 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 460/8-276 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-351 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history edit

The submarine was laid down on 4 March 1940 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg as yard number 470, launched on 27 March 1941 and commissioned on 20 June under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl Hause.

She served with the 26th U-boat Flotilla from 20 June 1941, the 24th flotilla from 1 April 1942, the 22nd flotilla from 1 July 1944 and the 4th flotilla from 1 March 1945. All these assignments were for employment as a training or school boat. U-351 was scuttled on 5 May 1945 in Horup Haff, (east of Flensburg). The wreck was broken up in 1948.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-351". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Hofmann, Markus. "U 351". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 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.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-351". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 351". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.