German submarineU-343

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-343
Ordered	20 January 1941
Builder	Nordseewerke,Emden
Yard number	215
Laid down	1 April 1942
Launched	21 December 1942
Commissioned	18 February 1943
Fate	Sunk on 10 March 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIICsubmarine
Displacement	769tonnes(757long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts; 2 ×diesel engines; 2 ×electric motors;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500nmi(15,700km;9,800mi) 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);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four bow, one stern); 14 ×torpedoesor26 TMAmines; 1 ×8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds); 2 × twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 18 February – 31 October 1943; 3rd U-boat Flotilla; 1 November 1943 – 31 January 1944; 29th U-boat Flotilla; 1 February – 10 March 1944;
Identification codes:	M 50 232
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S.Wolfgang Rahn; 18 February 1943 – 10 March 1944;
Operations:	3 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 22 October – 16 November 1943; 2nd patrol:; 26 December 1943 – 19 January 1944; 3rd patrol:; 4 – 10 March 1944;
Victories:	2Wellingtonbombers shot down; 1 Wellington bomber damaged; 1Catalinaflying boatdamaged;

German submarineU-343was aType VIIC U-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.The submarine waslaid downon 1 April 1942 at theNordseewerkeyard atEmden,launchedon 21 December 1942 andcommissionedon 18 February 1943 under the command ofLeutnant zur SeeWolfgang Rahn.^[2]

After training with the8th U-boat FlotillaatDanzig,U-343was transferred to the3rd U-boat Flotilla,based atLa Pallicein France, for front-line service on 1 November 1943, and then to the29th U-boat Flotilla,based atToulonon theMediterraneancoast, on 1 February 1944. On 10 March 1944,U-343was sunk offBizerteby depth charges from a British warship. All 51 of her crew members were lost with the U-boat.^[2]

Construction and Design

A cross-section of a Type VIIC submarine

U-343was ordered by theKriegsmarineon 21 November 1940. She waslaid downabout eight months later at theNordseewerkeyard atEmden,on 1 April 1942. Just under eight months later,U-343waslaunchedfrom Emden on 21 December 1942. She was formallycommissionedthe next year on 18 February 1943.U-343carried five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four located in the bow, one in the stern) and had one8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gunwith 220 rounds. She could also carry 14torpedoesor 26 TMAminesand had a crew of 44-52 men.^[2]

Service history

First patrol

U-343sailed fromKielunder the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeWolfgang Rahn on 16 October 1943, stopping atTrondheimfor three days^[3]before continuing out into the north Atlantic to join the "wolfpacks"'Eisenhart 7' on 9 November and 'Schill 2' on 17 November.^[2]However, she made no successful attacks, before arriving at her new home port of La Pallice on 16 November after 26 days at sea.^[4]

Second patrol

U-343left La Pallice on 26 December 1943, sailed around the coast of Spain and Portugal and into the Mediterranean Sea, passing through theStrait of Gibraltaron 5 January 1944.^[5]

At 20:30 on 7 January the U-boat was attacked by aWellingtonbomber fromNo. 36 Squadron RAF.After dropping fivedepth charges,all of which missed, the plane was hit on the port wing by the U-boat's anti-aircraft fire and caught fire. The aircraft crashed into the sea, killing the pilot and navigator. The remaining four crewmen were rescued by theFree Polish destroyer ORPŚlązakthe next day.^[5]

However, another Wellington of 36 Squadron arrived on the scene, and immediately attackedU-343.Its depth charges fell wide after the port engine was hit by the U-boat's AA fire, but it managed to reachBône,Algeria,safely.^[5]

The next day, 8 January, at 21:40 a third Wellington of 36 Squadron locatedU-343south-west ofCartagena, Spain,and brought two more Wellingtons fromNo. 179 Squadron RAF,based atGibraltar,to attack. One aircraft dropped six depth charges, but was hit by AA fire on the port wing, which caught fire, and the aircraft crashed into the sea, killing five crewmen. Only the pilot survived, and was passed closely by the U-boat twice while in his dinghy. He was picked up by the destroyerHMSActivethe next morning.^[5]

The attacks on the U-boat continued for several hours, and were augmented by the arrival of aCatalina flying boatfromNo. 202 Squadron RAF.It too was hit by AA fire, forcing the aircraft to head for home.^[5]

Third patrol

U-343left Toulon on 4 March 1944 and headed for the coast ofTunisia.^[6]There on 10 March 1944, north ofBizerte,in position38°07′N09°41′E/ 38.117°N 9.683°E/38.117; 9.683,she was sunk bydepth chargesfrom the Britishminesweeping trawlerHMSMullwith the loss of all 51 hands.^[2]

References

^Kemp 1999,p. 175.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^fHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-343".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.
^^a ^bHelgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols ofU-343".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur."Patrol info forU-343(First patrol) ".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^eHelgason, Guðmundur."Patrol info forU-343(Second patrol) ".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur."Patrol info forU-343(Third patrol) ".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.

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.
Kemp, Paul (1999).U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars.London: Arms & Armour.ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-343".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.
Hofmann, Markus."U 343".Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.

[FOOTNOTEKemp1999175-1] Kemp 1999,p. 175.

[uboatnet-2] Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-343".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.

[patrols-3] Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols ofU-343".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.

[4] Helgason, Guðmundur."Patrol info forU-343(First patrol) ".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.

[patrol_4990-5] Helgason, Guðmundur."Patrol info forU-343(Second patrol) ".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.

[6] Helgason, Guðmundur."Patrol info forU-343(Third patrol) ".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 June2010.

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v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by:Type II Followed by:Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1944
Shipwrecks	1 Mar:HMSGould,Sakito Maru,U-358,U-603,U-709 4 Mar:U-472 5 Mar:U-366 6 Mar:U-744,U-973 10 Mar:USSLeopold,William B. Woods,U-343,U-450,U-625,U-845 11 Mar:Dupleix,Fresnel,Pascal,U-380,U-410,UIT-22 13 Mar:Peleus,Tatsuta,U-575 15 Mar:Dupleix,Empire Ace,U-653 16 Mar:Shirakumo,U-392 17 Mar:U-28,U-801,U-1013 19 Mar:U-1059 20 Mar:HMSGraph,Seydlitz 22 Mar:Cattaro 23 Mar:I-42,U-575 24 Mar:I-32,Schwabenland,U-1102 25 Mar:U-976 26 Mar:USSTullibee 28 Mar:HMSSyrtis,Tulagi 29 Mar:U-961 30 Mar:Akashi,HMSLaforey,Patrol Boat No. 31,U-223 Unknown date:Goshū Maru,HMSStonehenge,HMSSyrtis,U-851
Other incidents	3 Mar:Karatsu,USSSand Lance 10 Mar:I-185 18 Mar:I-165 29 Mar:USSGunnel,I-26
194319441945 February 1944April 1944