German submarine U-745

Summary

German submarine U-745 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II, and which was lost at sea on 31 January 1945.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-745
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderSchichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1548
Laid down8 July 1942
Launched16 April 1943
Commissioned19 June 1943
FateSunk on 31 January 1945
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 52 636
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 9 June – 7 July 1944
  • b. 15 – 17 Jul 1944
  • c. 29 July – 1 August 1944
  • d. 3 – 7 August 1944
  • e. 8 – 9 August 1944
  • f. 14 – 18 August 1944
  • g. 20 August 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 23 – 27 August 1944
  • b. 29 August 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 11 September – 20 October 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 23 December 1944 – 31 January 1945
Victories:
  • 1 warship sunk
    (600 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (140 GRT)

U-745 was launched on 16 April 1943, under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm von Trotha, who would remain its commanding officer for its entire service. U-745 had a crew of 45.

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-745 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-745 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

She undertook four patrols during her service, and sank one allied auxiliary ship, the Soviet minesweeping trawler T-45 Antikajnen (No. 48), and one allied warship, the Soviet fleet minesweeper T-76 Korall.

Fate edit

On 31 January 1945, she was lost with all hands in the Gulf of Finland by a mine laid by the Finnish minelayers Louhi and Ruotsinsalmi on 12 January 1945.

Wilhelm von Trotha's body was later found near Föglö, Finland, and was buried three days later. No other bodies were recovered. Unlike most U-boats, which suffered casualties during the course of service due to accidents or other causes, U-745 suffered no casualties at all, until the time of her disappearance.

In late 2012 the Finnish diving team 'Badewanne', after 10 years of searching, reported they had found both U-676 and U-745 in the Gulf of Finland south of Hanko.[1]

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
26 August 1944 T-45 Antikajnen (No. 48)   Soviet Navy 140 Sunk
11 January 1945 T-76 Korall   Soviet Navy 600 Sunk

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-745". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-745". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 10 February 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.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-745". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

59°30′N 23°00′E / 59.500°N 23.000°E / 59.500; 23.000