German submarine U-471

German submarine U-471 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 25 October 1941 by Deutsche Werke, Kiel as yard number 302, launched on 6 March 1943 and commissioned on 5 May 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich Kloevekorn.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-471
Ordered	20 January 1941
Builder	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number	302
Laid down	25 October 1941
Launched	6 March 1943
Commissioned	5 May 1943
Fate	Sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon dry dock, in position 43°07′N 05°55′E, in a US air raid.
France
Name	Millé (Q339)
Acquired	1945
Commissioned	1946
Decommissioned	9 July 1963
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long 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
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	8,500 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)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 5 May – 31 October 1943 1st U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1943 – 30 April 1944 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 May – 6 August 1944
Identification codes:	M 46 834
Commanders:	Kptlt. Friedrich Kloevekorn 5 May 1943 – 6 August 1944
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 27 November 1943 – 30 January 1944 2nd patrol: 16 March – 12 April 1944 3rd patrol: 18 May – 15 June 1944
Victories:	None

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-471 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-471 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 5 May 1943, followed by active service on 1 November 1943 as part of the 1st Flotilla. On 1 May 1944, she transferred to 29th Flotilla for Mediterranean operations for the remainder of her service. In 3 patrols she sank no ships. In 1945, she was raised and returned to service with the French Navy as Millé from 1946. She was stricken on 9 July 1963 as Q339.

Wolfpacks

U-471 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

• Coronel 1 (14 – 17 December 1943)
• Sylt (18 – 23 December 1943)
• Rügen 3 (26 – 28 December 1943)
• Rügen 4 (28 December 1943 – 2 January 1944)
• Rügen 3 (2 – 7 January 1944)
• Rügen (7 – 22 January 1944)

Fate

U-471 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon dry-dock in position 43°07′N 05°55′E, in an air raid by US Liberator bombers.

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)

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.
• Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-471". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 December 2014.