German submarineU-347
History | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Name | U-347 |
Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
Builder | Nordseewerke,Emden |
Yard number | 219 |
Laid down | 19 October 1942 |
Launched | 21 May 1943 |
Commissioned | 7 July 1943 |
Fate | Sunk by a British aircraft on 17 July 1944[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIICsubmarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
|
Beam |
|
Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range | |
Test depth |
|
Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
|
Service record[2][3] | |
Part of: |
|
Identification codes: | M 53 298 |
Commanders: |
|
Operations: |
|
Victories: | None |
German submarineU-347was aType VIICU-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.
She was a member of threewolfpacks.
She was on her fourth patrol when she was sunk by a British aircraft on 17 July 1944.
She sank or damaged no ships.
Design
[edit]German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-347had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4]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).[4]
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).[4]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-347was 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.[4]
Service history
[edit]The submarine waslaid downon 19 October 1942 at theNordseewerkeyard atEmdenas yard number 219,launchedon 21 May 1943 andcommissionedon 7 July under the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeJohahn de Buhr.
U-347served with the8th U-boat Flotilla,for training and the9th flotillafor operations from 1 March 1944. She was reassigned to the11th flotillaon 1 June 1944.
First patrol
[edit]U-347had sailed fromKielin Germany toStavangerin Norway March 1944, but her first patrol began when she departed Stavanger on 9 May. She arrived atNarvikon the 13th.
Second patrol
[edit]Her second foray began on 15 May 1944 when she departed Narvik (a port she would use as a base for the rest of her career), for theNorwegian Sea.She returned on 8 June.
Third patrol
[edit]U-347departed Narvik on 23 June 1944; she returned the same day.
Fourth patrol and loss
[edit]The boat had departed Narvik on 3 July 1944. On the 17th, she was sunk by aB-24 LiberatorofNo. 86 Squadron RAF.[5]
Forty-nine men died in the U-boat's sinking; there were no survivors.[6]
Previously recorded fate
[edit]U-347was thought to have been sunk on 17 July 1944 west of Narvik by a BritishPBY CatalinaofNo. 210 Squadron RAF.The pilot, Flying OfficerJohn Cruickshank,was awarded theVictoria Crossfor sinkingU-361.[5]
Wolfpacks
[edit]U-347took part in threewolfpacks,namely:
- Trutz (15 – 31 May 1944)
- Grimm (31 May – 6 June 1944)
- Trutz (5 – 10 July 1944)
References
[edit]- ^Kemp 1999,p. 204.
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-347".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved23 August2012.
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols by German U-boat U-347".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved23 August2012.
- ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
- ^abHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-347".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.
- ^Hofmann, Markus."U 347".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).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.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-347".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.
- Hofmann, Markus."U 347".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.
- German Type VIIC submarines
- U-boats commissioned in 1943
- U-boats sunk in 1944
- U-boats sunk by British aircraft
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- World War II submarines of Germany
- World War II shipwrecks in the Norwegian Sea
- 1943 ships
- Ships built in Emden
- Submarines lost with all hands
- Maritime incidents in July 1944