German submarine U-737
History | |
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Name | U-737 |
Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
Builder | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
Yard number | 1534 |
Laid down | 14 February 1942 |
Launched | 21 November 1942 |
Commissioned | 30 January 1943 |
Fate | Sunk, 19 December 1944 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-737 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 14 February 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 30 January 1943 with Leutnant zur See in command.
Design[]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-737 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-737 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[]
The U-Boat conducted nine patrols
- 30 January to 30 June 1943 - 8th U-boat Flotilla (as part of training)
- 1 July 1943 to 19 December 1944 - 13th U-boat Flotilla (active service)
The boat was attacked twice by aircraft while on active service. Once early in 1944, by a RAF British Liberator aircraft. She managed to damage the plane with anti-aircraft fire, which had to abort the attack and was forced to make a belly landing because of damage sustained. In later 1944, the U-boat was attacked by a Soviet plane, three crew were injured, before she dived.
Fate[]
While on active duty under the command of Oblt.z.S. Friedrich-August Greus, U-737 sank at 00:50 on 19 December 1944 in the Vestfjorden, in position 68°09′N 15°39′E / 68.150°N 15.650°ECoordinates: 68°09′N 15°39′E / 68.150°N 15.650°E. She had collided with German depot ship, MRS 25. 31 crew died, with 20 survivors.
Wolfpacks[]
U-737 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely.
- Monsun (4–22 October 1943)
- Isegrim (16–27 January 1944)
- Werwolf (27 January – 9 February 1944)
- Taifun (5–7 March 1944)
- Trutz (2–6 June 1944)
- Feuer (17–19 September 1944)
- Grimm (24 September – 2 October 1944)
- Panther (16–23 October 1944)
References[]
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-737". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d 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). Vol. 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. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links[]
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-737". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gunther Pfeffer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- German Type VIIC submarines
- World War II submarines of Germany
- World War II shipwrecks in the Norwegian Sea
- U-boats sunk in 1944
- U-boats sunk by German warships
- 1943 ships
- Ships built in Danzig
- Ships built by Schichau
- U-boats sunk in collisions
- Maritime incidents in December 1944