German submarine U-767

Summary

German submarine U-767 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 5 April 1941 by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven as yard number 150, launched on 10 July 1943 and commissioned on 11 September 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Walter Dankleff.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-767
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderKriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number150
Laid down5 April 1941
Launched10 July 1943
Commissioned11 September 1943
FateSunk on 18 June 1944 in the English Channel at 49°03′N 03°13′W / 49.050°N 3.217°W / 49.050; -3.217 by RN destroyers HMS Fame, HMS Inconstant and HMS Havelock
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
Part of:
Identification codes: M 52 399
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Dankleff[1]
  • 11 September 1943 – 18 June 1944
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 22 May – 18 June 1944
Victories: 1 warship sunk
(1,370 tons)

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-767 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-767 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 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 Flotilla on 11 September 1943, followed by active service on 1 May 1944 as part of the 1st Flotilla.

Wolfpacks edit

U-767 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate edit

U-767 was sunk on 18 June 1944 in the English Channel at 49°03′N 03°13′W / 49.050°N 3.217°W / 49.050; -3.217 by depth charges dropped by Royal Navy destroyers HMS Fame, HMS Inconstant and HMS Havelock. The boat's electrician was the sole survivor.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
15 June 1944 HMS Mourne   Royal Navy 1,370 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. "Walter Dankleff". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-767". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

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.
  • 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1997). Ships hit by U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. p. 198. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). Ships hit by U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC U-boat U-767". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 March 2015.