German submarine U-412

German submarine U-412 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-412
Ordered30 October 1939
BuilderDanziger Werft, Danzig
Yard number113
Laid down7 March 1941
Launched15 December 1941
Commissioned29 April 1942
FateSunk northeast of the Faroe Islands on 22 October 1942 by a British aircraft[1]
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
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 06 991
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Walther Jahrmärker
  • 29 April – 22 October 1942
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 17 – 22 October 1942
Victories: None

She carried out one patrol. She sank or damaged no ships.

She was sunk northeast of the Faroe Islands on 22 October 1942 by a British aircraft.

Design

edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-412 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-412 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

edit

The submarine was laid down on 7 March 1941 at the Danziger Werft (yard) at Danzig (now Gdansk) as yard number 113, launched on 15 December and commissioned on 29 April under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Jahrmäker. She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 29 April 1942 (training) and the 9th flotilla from 1 October.[2]

Patrol and loss

edit

U-412 departed Kiel on 17 October 1942. She was sunk on 22 October northeast of the Faroe Islands by depth charges dropped by a Vickers Wellington of No. 179 Squadron RAF. Forty-seven men died in U-412; there were no survivors.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 93.
  2. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-412". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  3. ^ 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). 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
edit

63°55′N 0°24′E / 63.917°N 0.400°E / 63.917; 0.400