German submarine U-773

Summary

German submarine U-773 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-773.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-773
Ordered21 November 1940
BuilderKriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven
Yard number156
Laid down13 October 1942
Launched8 December 1943
Commissioned20 January 1944
FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 8 December 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
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 058
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Richard Lange[1]
  • 20 January – 17 April 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Hugo Baldus[2]
  • 18 April 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 15 October – 18 November 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 7 December 1944 – 10 January 1945
  • b. 14 – 23 January 1945
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 19 February – 14 April 1945
Victories: None

She was ordered on 21 November 1940, and was laid down on 13 October 1942, at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 156. She was launched on 8 December 1943, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Richard Lange on 20 January 1944.[3]

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-773 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] 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-773 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, 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 44 — 52 men.[4]

Service history edit

U-773 participated in three war patrols that yielded no ships sunk or damaged.[3]

On 9 May 1945, U-773 surrendered at Lofjord, near Trondheim, Norway. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 29 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-773 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-773 was towed out and sank on 8 December 1945, by unknown causes.[3]

The wreck now lies at 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W / 56.167; -10.083.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Richard Lange". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hugo Baldus". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-773". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  4. ^ 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). 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. "Patrols by U-773". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.