German submarineU-394

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-394
Ordered	20 January 1941
Builder	Howaldtswerke,Kiel
Yard number	26
Laid down	31 March 1942
Launched	19 June 1943
Commissioned	7 August 1943
Fate	Sunk, by a British aircraft and warships in theNorwegian Seaon 2 September 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 ×torpedoes; 1 ×8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds); 1 ×3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42AA gun; 2 × twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla; 7 August 1943 – 31 March 1944; 1st U-boat Flotilla; 1 April – 31 May 1944; 11th U-boat Flotilla; 1 June – 2 September 1944;
Identification codes:	M 53 379
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S.Ernst-Günther Unterhorst; 7 – 18 August 1943; Kptlt.Wolfgang Borger; 19 August 1943 – 2 September 1944;
Operations:	2 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 1 June – 8 July 1944; 2nd patrol:; 27 July – 2 September 1944;
Victories:	None

German submarineU-394was aType VIIC U-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.

She carried out two patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk by a British aircraft and warships in theNorwegian Seaon 2 September 1944.^[1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-394had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[2]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-cylindersupercharged diesel 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).^[2]

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).^[2]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-394was 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), one3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The submarine waslaid downon 31 January 1941 at theHowaldtswerke(yard) atFlensburgas yard number 26,launchedon 19 June 1943 andcommissionedon 7 August under the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeErnst-Günther Unterhorst.

The boat was a member of twowolfpacks.

She served with the5th U-boat Flotillafrom 7 August 1943 and the1st flotillafrom 1 April 1944. She was reassigned to the11th flotillaon 1 June.

Her first patrol was preceded by a series of short journey fromKielin Germany toArendal(northeast of Kristiansand),BergenandNarvikin Norway.

First patrol

The boat departed Narvik on 1 June 1944. She was soon sweeping theNorwegian SeabetweenJan Mayenisland and the Norwegian mainland. She arrived atHammerfeston 8 July.

Second patrol and loss

U-394left Hammerfest on 27 July 1944. She patrolled theGreenlandandBarentsseas. On 2 September, southeast of Jan Mayen, she was sunk by rockets anddepth chargesfrom aFairey Swordfishof825 Naval Air Squadron(this aircraft was from the escort carrierHMSVindex), the British destroyersHMSKeppelandHMSWhitehall.The sloopsHMSMermaidandHMSPeacockwere also involved.

50 men died in the U-boat; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-394took part in twowolfpacks,namely:

Trutz (2 June – 6 July 1944)
Trutz (17 August – 2 September 1944)

References

^^a ^b ^cHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-394".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved9 September2012.
^^a ^b ^c ^dGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.

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.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-394".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved9 September2012.
Hofmann, Markus."U 394".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.

69°47′00″N4°10′00″E/ 69.7833°N 4.1667°E/69.7833; 4.1667

[uboatnet-1] Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-394".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved9 September2012.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-2] Gröner 1991,pp. 43–46.

[1]

[2]

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 September 1944
Shipwrecks	1 Sep:HMSHurst Castle,Kehdingen,U-247 2 Sep:Empire Curzon,U-394 5 Sep:U-362 7 Sep:Shinyō Maru,(incident),Westfalen 8 Sep:Rex 9 Sep:Sava,U-484 10 Sep:U-20,U-23 11 Sep:Giulio Cesare,U-19 12 Sep:Korei Maru,Nankai Maru,USSNoa,Rakuyō Maru,Shikinami 13 Sep:USSPerry,USSWarrington 14 Sep:Irene Oldendorff 16 Sep:I-364 17 Sep:Un'yō 18 Sep:Dr. Heinrich Wiegand,Gyōkū Maru,Jun'yō Maru 19 Sep:Isoshima;U-407,U-867 21 Sep:China Maru,Hōfuku Maru,Katsuriki,Noshiro Maru,Satsuki 22 Sep:Drache 23 Sep:Taranto,U-859 24 Sep:Akitsushima,Siberia Maru,T-120,Yaeyama 25 Sep:USSMiantonomah 26 Sep:Aotaka,Ro-47,Saga,U-871 27 Sep:HMSRockingham,Ural Maru 28 Sep:Dragoner 29 Sep:U-863 30 Sep:U-565,U-596,U-1062 Unknown date:U-703,U-855,U-865,U-921
Other incidents	8–9 Sep:Yu 3001 12 Sep:USSFullam 13 Sep:USSSegundo 14 Sep:USSNatchez,USSTemptress 15 Sep:Tirpitz 19 Sep:Jingei,U-565 24 Sep:U-565,U-596 26 Sep:Don Marquis Unknown date:Schwabenland
194319441945 August 1944October 1944