German submarine U-903

German submarine U-903 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-903.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-903
Ordered16 July 1942
BuilderFlender Werke AG, Lübeck
Yard number329
Laid down25 August 1942
Launched17 July 1943
Commissioned4 September 1943
FateScuttled on 5 May 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 54 904
Commanders:
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Hans Hellmann[1]
  • 4 September – 14 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Fränzel[2]
  • 15 December 1943 – 24 April 1945
  • Kptlt. Otto Tinschert[3]
  • 25 April – 5 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

She was ordered on 16 July 1942, and was laid down on 25 August 1942 at Flender Werke AG, Lübeck, as yard number 329. She was launched on 17 July 1943 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Hans Hellmann on 4 September 1943.[4]

Design

edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-903 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[5] 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 SSW 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).[5]

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).[5] 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-903 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.[5]

Service history

edit

On 5 May 1945, U-903 was scuttled in the Gelting Bay near Gelting. She was later raised and broken up in 1947.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Hellmann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Otto Fränzel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Otto Tinschert". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-903". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  5. ^ 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.
edit