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German submarine U-304

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German submarine U-304 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She saw service in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Built in 1941 and 1942 at Flender-Werke, Lübeck,[1] U-304 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-304
Ordered7 December 1940
BuilderFlender Werke, Lübeck
Yard number304[1]
Laid down26 June 1941
Launched13 June 1942
Commissioned5 August 1942
FateSunk by aircraft on 28 May 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) 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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 14 775
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinz Koch
  • 5 August 1942 – 28 May 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 27 April – 28 May 1943
Victories: None

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-304 had 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), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing 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, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing 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-304 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]

Service history

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U-304 was launched on 13 June 1942 and commissioned 5 August 1942.[5] On 14 May 1943, after being attacked by depth charges from HMS Duncan and HMS Snowflake (K211) she suffered minor damage.[6]

On 28 May 1943 the boat was attacked by RAF Liberator bomber of 120 Squadron and sunk by bombs off Cape Farewell in the North Atlantic at 54°50′N 37°20′W / 54.833°N 37.333°W / 54.833; -37.333. All 46 crew members died in the event.[7]

Wolfpacks

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U-304 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

  • Without name (7 – 10 May 1943)
  • Isar (10 – 15 May 1943)
  • Donau I [de] (15 – 26 May 1943)

References

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  1. ^ a b Gröner 1985, p. 72.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-304". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-304". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ^ Gröner 1985, p. 86.
  6. ^ Niestlé, Axel (30 June 2014). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Frontline Books. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4738-3829-1.
  7. ^ Gröner 1991, p. 52.

Bibliography

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  • 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). 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. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich (1985). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 / 3, U-Boote, Hilfskreuzer, Minenschiffe, Netzleger, Sperrbrecher (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4802-4. OCLC 310610321.
  • 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.
edit
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-304". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 304". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

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