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German submarine U-407

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German submarine U-407 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 12 September 1940 by Danziger Werft, Danzig as yard number 108, launched on 16 August 1941 and commissioned on 18 December 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Ernst-Ulrich Brüller.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-407
Ordered16 October 1939
BuilderDanziger Werft, Danzig
Yard number108
Laid down12 September 1940
Launched16 August 1941
Commissioned18 December 1941
FateSunk on 19 September 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 36°27′N 24°33′E / 36.450°N 24.550°E / 36.450; 24.550, by depth charges from HMS Troubridge, HMS Terpsichore and ORP Garland.
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
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[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 08 300
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ernst-Ulrich Brüller
  • 18 December 1941 – 14 January 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Hubertus Korndörfer
  • 14 January 1944 – 8 September 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Kolbus
  • 9 September 1944 – 19 September 1944
Operations:
  • 12 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 15 August – 9 October 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 2 – 26 November 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 17 January 1943 – 26 February 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 21 April – 8 May 1943
  • b. 12 – 28 May 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 7 – 30 July 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 17 August – 8 September 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 9 – 12 September 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 11 November – 12 December 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 29 January – 12 March 1944
  • 10th patrol:
  • 13 April – 10 May 1944
  • 11th patrol:
  • 21 August – 4 September 1944
  • 12th patrol:
  • 9 – 19 September 1944
Victories:
  • 3 merchant ships sunk
    (26,892 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (7,176 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (6,207 GRT)
  • 2 warships damaged
    (17,900 tons)

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-407 had 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), 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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).[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-407 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

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The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 18 December 1941, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla. However, within 3 months, she transferred for operations in the Mediterranean with 29th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In twelve patrols she sank three merchant ships – including the 19,627 GRT RMS Viceroy of India on 11 November 1942 – for a total of 26,892 gross register tons (GRT), one merchant ship damaged of 6,207 GRT, two warships damaged (17,900 tons) and one more ship a total loss 7,176 GRT; however, some sources claim that the damaging of HMS Newfoundland is to be attributed to the Italian submarine Ascianghi.[3]

Wolfpacks

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U-407 took part in four wolfpacks, namely:

  • Vorwärts (25 August – 26 September 1942)
  • Tiger (26 – 28 September 1942)
  • Delphin (4 – 10 November 1942)
  • Wal (10 – 15 November 1942)

Fate

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U-407 was sunk on 19 September 1944 in the Mediterranean in position, south of Milos, 36°27′N 24°33′E / 36.450°N 24.550°E / 36.450; 24.550, by depth charges from HMS Troubridge, HMS Terpsichore and ORP Garland. There were five crew members killed.

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[4]
11 November 1942 Viceroy of India   United Kingdom 19,627 Sunk
23 July 1943 HMS Newfoundland   Royal Navy 8,800 Damaged
28 November 1943 HMS Birmingham   Royal Navy 9,100 Damaged
27 February 1944 Rod el Farag   Egypt 55 Sunk
29 February 1944 Ensis   United Kingdom 6,207 Damaged
16 April 1944 Meyer London   United States 7,210 Sunk
16 April 1944 Thomas G. Masaryk   United States 7,176 Total loss

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-407". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). Uomini sul fondo : storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini a oggi. Milano: Mondadori. p. 362. ISBN 8804505370.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-407". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2014.

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). 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.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
edit
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-407". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 407". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

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