German submarine U-418

Summary

German submarine U-418 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-418
Ordered20 January 1941
BuilderDanziger Werft, Danzig
Yard number119
Laid down21 October 1941
Launched11 July 1942
Commissioned21 October 1942
FateSunk by a British aircraft in Bay of Biscay on 30 May 1943[1]
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[2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 50 558
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Gerhard Lange
  • 21 October 1942 – 30 May 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 24 April – 30 May 1943
Victories: None

She carried out one patrol. She was a member of three wolfpacks. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk by a British aircraft in the Bay of Biscay on 30 May 1943.[1][2]

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-418 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-418 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history edit

The submarine was laid down on 21 October 1941 at the Danziger Werft (yard) at Danzig (now Gdansk), as yard number 119, launched on 11 July 1942 and commissioned on 21 October under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Lange.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 21 October 1942 and the 1st flotilla from 1 May 1943.

Patrol and loss edit

U-418 left Kiel on 24 April 1943 and headed for the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The boat was sunk by a British Catalina flying boat of No. 210 Squadron RAF on 30 May. Whole crew was killed.[2]

Previously recorded fate edit

U-418 was sunk on 1 June 1943 by rockets from a British Bristol Beaufighter of 236 Squadron in the western Bay of Biscay.[2]

Wolfpacks edit

U-418 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

  • Without name (5 – 10 May 1943)
  • Isar (10 – 15 May 1943)
  • Donau 1 (15 – 23 May 1943)

References edit

  1. ^ a b Kemp 1999, pp. 122–123.
  2. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-418". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

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). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-418". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

47°05′N 8°55′W / 47.083°N 8.917°W / 47.083; -8.917