German submarine U-974

Summary

German submarine U-974 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-974.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-974
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number174
Laid down26 June 1942
Launched11 March 1943
Commissioned22 April 1943
FateSunk on 19 April 1944
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 43 387
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Joachim Zaubitzer[1]
  • 22 April – 8 November 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinz Wolff[2]
  • 9 November 1943 – 19 April 1944
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 18 – 19 April 1944
Victories: None

She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 26 June 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 174. She was launched on 11 March 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Joachim Zaubitzer on 22 April 1943.[3]

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-974 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-974 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, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[4]

Service history edit

On 19 April 1944, U-974 was sunk by torpedoes near Stavanger, Norway, in the Boknafjord. U-974 was attacked by a Norwegian submarine, HNoMS Ula. Eight of the crew of fifty survived.[3]

The wreck is located at 59°08′N 05°23′E / 59.133°N 5.383°E / 59.133; 5.383.[3]

Discovery of wreck edit

In 1996, an ROV at a depth of about 190 m (620 ft) discovered the wreck of U-974. She had broken into two separate parts of about 15 m (49 ft) and 40 m (130 ft) in length. The wreck of U-974 lies in the Boknafjord around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) southeast of Loten, Bokn.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Joachim Zaubitzer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Wolff". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-974". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 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-974". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.