German submarineU-271
History | |
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Name | U-271 |
Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
Builder | Bremer Vulkan,Bremen-Vegesack |
Yard number | 36 |
Laid down | 21 October 1941 |
Launched | 29 July 1942 |
Commissioned | 23 September 1942 |
Fate | Sunk on 28 January 1944, by a USB-24 Liberator[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIICsubmarine |
Displacement | |
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 | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1][2] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 49 368 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarineU-271was aType VIICU-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.The submarine waslaid downon 21 October 1941 at theBremer Vulkanyard atBremen-Vegesackas yard number 36,launchedon 29 July 1942 andcommissionedon 23 September under the command ofKapitänleutnantCurt Barleben. After training with the8th U-boat Flotilla,U-271was transferred to the1st U-boat Flotilla,for front-line service from 1 June 1943.
U-271sank no ships in her short career. She was a member of twowolfpacks.
Design
[edit]German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-271had 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), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeamof 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraughtof 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel enginesproducing 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, twoAEGGU 460/8–27double-acting electric motorsproducing 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-271was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes,one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun,220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns.The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Service history
[edit]First patrol
[edit]The boat's initial foray started and finished inLorientin occupied France. It was relatively uneventful.
Second patrol
[edit]It was a different story on her second patrol. While serving as a 'Flak' boat,U-271was attacked by twoTBM Avengersfrom theUSSCoreon 21 October 1943. One man died.
She was also attacked by aB-24 Liberatoron 24 June south southeast ofCape Finisterre.The aircraft was shot down. The submarine sustained some damage.
Third patrol and loss
[edit]U-271set off fromBrestfor the last time on 12 January 1944. On the 28th she was attacked and sunk west ofLimerickin Ireland by a US NavyPB4Y-1 LiberatorofVB-103.
Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.
Wolfpacks
[edit]U-271took part in twowolfpacks,namely:
- Rügen (21 – 26 January 1944)
- Hinein (26 – 28 January 1944)
References
[edit]- ^abHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-271".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved4 August2012.
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols by German U-boat U-271".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved4 August2012.
- ^abcdGröner 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.ISBN1-55750-186-6.
- 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.ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
- 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.ISBN0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1999).U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars.London: Arms & Armour.ISBN1-85409-515-3.
External links
[edit]- Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-271".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.
- Hofmann, Markus."U 271".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.
- German Type VIIC submarines
- U-boats commissioned in 1942
- U-boats sunk in 1944
- World War II submarines of Germany
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- 1942 ships
- Ships built in Bremen (state)
- U-boats sunk by US aircraft
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- Submarines lost with all hands
- Maritime incidents in January 1944