German submarine U-734
History | |
---|---|
Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-734 |
Ordered: | 21 November 1940 |
Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
Yard number: | 1525 |
Laid down: | 20 October 1941 |
Launched: | 19 September 1942 |
Commissioned: | 5 December 1942 |
Fate: | Sunk 9 February 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 49°43′N 16°23′W / 49.717°N 16.383°WCoordinates: 49°43′N 16°23′W / 49.717°N 16.383°W, by depth charges from HMS Wild Goose & HMS Starling. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement: |
|
Length: |
|
Beam: |
|
Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power: |
|
Propulsion: |
|
Speed: |
|
Range: | |
Test depth: |
|
Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
|
Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
|
Commanders: |
|
Operations: |
|
Victories: | None |
German submarine U-734 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 20 October 1941 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1525, launched on 19 September 1942 and commissioned on 5 December 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jörg Blauert.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-734 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-734 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 5 December 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In two patrols she sank no ships.
Wolfpacks
U-734 took part in three wolfpacks, namely
- Coronel (4–8 December 1943)
- Coronel 2 (8–14 December 1943)
- Igel 2 (9 February 1944)
Fate
U-734 was sunk on 9 February 1944 in the North Atlantic, SW of Ireland, in position 49°43′N 16°23′W / 49.717°N 16.383°W, by depth charges from Royal Navy sloops HMS Wild Goose & HMS Starling. All hands were lost.
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-734". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
Bibliography
- 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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 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
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-734". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.