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German submarine U-739

Summary

German submarine U-739 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 April 1942 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1536, launched on 23 December 1942 and commissioned on 6 March 1943 under Leutnant zur See Ernst Mangold.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-739
Ordered10 April 1941
BuilderSchichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1536
Laid down17 April 1942
Launched23 December 1942
Commissioned6 March 1943
FateSurrendered on 13 May 1945 at Emden. Sunk on 16 December 1945, in position 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W / 56.167; -10.083 in Operation Deadlight.
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 50 545
Commanders:
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Ernst Mangold
  • 6 March 1943 – 25 February 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Fritz Kosnick
  • 26 February – 13 May 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Johannes Ney (acting)
  • 26 February – March 1945
Operations:
  • 8 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 8 January – 3 February 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 21 February – 8 March 1944
  • b. 27 – 29 March 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 30 March – 13 April 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 16 April – 9 May 1944
  • b. 11 – 13 May 1944
  • c. 30 June – 1 July 1944
  • d. 7 – 12 July 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 2 August – 3 October 1944
  • b. 6 – 8 October 1944
  • c. 15 – 18 December 1944
  • 6th patrol:
  • 7 – 10 January 1945
  • 7th patrol:
  • 16 January – 25 February 1945
  • 8th patrol:
  • 1 April – 13 May 1945
Victories: 1 warship sunk
(625 tons)

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-739 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-739 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.[2]

Service history edit

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 6 March 1943, followed by active service on 1 November 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla. Just two months later she transferred to 13th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In eight patrols she sank one warship for a total of 625 tons.

Wolfpacks edit

U-739 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

  • Isegrim (16 – 27 January 1944)
  • Werwolf (27 January – 2 February 1944)
  • Boreas (28 February – 5 March 1944)
  • Keil (16 – 20 April 1944)
  • Donner & Keil (20 April – 3 May 1944)
  • Trutz (7 – 10 July 1944)
  • Greif (5 August – 26 September 1944)
  • Rasmus (6 – 13 February 1945)

Fate edit

U-739 surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Emden. Sunk later on 16 December 1945, in position 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W / 56.167; -10.083 in Operation Deadlight.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
24 September 1944 T-120   Soviet Navy 625 Sunk

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-739". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-739". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Eric; 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-739". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

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