German submarineU-313
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-313 |
Ordered | 25 August 1941 |
Builder | Flender Werke,Lübeck |
Yard number | 313 |
Laid down | 11 May 1942 |
Launched | 27 March 1943 |
Commissioned | 20 May 1943 |
Fate | Surrendered on 9 May 1945. Sunk on 27 December 1945 as part of OperationDeadlight |
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 44 826 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarineU-313was aType VIICU-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.The submarine waslaid downon 11 May 1942 at theFlender Werkeyard atLübeckas yard number 313,launchedon 27 March 1943 andcommissionedon 20 May under the command ofKapitänleutnantFriedrich Schweiger.
During her career, the U-boat sailed on twelve combat patrols, but sank no ships before she surrendered atNarvikon 9 May 1945. She was sunk on 27 December 1945 as part of OperationDeadlight.[1]
She was a member of elevenwolfpacks.
Design
[edit]German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-313had 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, twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co.RP 137/cdouble-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-313was 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]The boat's service life began with training with the8th U-boat Flotillain May 1943. She was transferred to the11th flotillafor operations on 1 January 1944. She was then reassigned to the13th flotillaon 15 September.
She made a pair of short voyages fromKielin Germany toStavangerandBergenin Norway in January 1944.
First, second and third patrols
[edit]The submarine's first patrol began with her departure from Bergen on 26 January 1944. She arrived atHammerfeston 2 February but departed again on the seventh. She finished the patrol at Hammerfest on the 29th.
U-313spent her second and third patrols in theNorwegian Sea.
Fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh patrols
[edit]Her fourth sortie took her as far as a point southwest ofBear Island.On 26 June 1944, she was north ofJan MayenIsland.
The boat's fifth patrol kept her closer to the Norwegian coast.
Her sixth and seventh patrols saw the submarine docking inSkillefjordon 23 September 1944, having left Narvik on the 20th. She then left the smaller port on the 26th and returned to Narvik.
Eighth, ninth and tenth patrols
[edit]For her eighth sortie, she rounded theNorth Cape,passingMurmansk.
Her ninth patrol was relatively short, beginning inBodenbuchton 11 December 1944, (northwest of Narvik) and terminating inTrondheimon the 16th.
If her previous patrol was brief, her tenth effort, at 57 days, was her longest and involved sailing near to theOrkney Islands.Having departed Trondheim, the boat returned to Narvik.
Eleventh and twelfth patrols and fate
[edit]Having usedHarstad(northwest of Narvik) briefly and following the German capitulation,U-313was moved, first from Narvik toSkjomenfjord,then toLoch Eribollin Scotland on 19 May 1945 in preparation for OperationDeadlight.She was finally transferred toLoch Ryanand sunk on 27 November. According to one source, she capsized while under tow byHMSBlencathra.[4]
References
[edit]- ^abHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-313".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved17 August2012.
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols by German U-boatU-313".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved17 August2012.
- ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
- ^Hofmann, Markus."U 313".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.
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.
External links
[edit]- Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-313".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.
- Hofmann, Markus."U 313".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.