German submarine U-714

German submarine U-714 was a Type VIIC U-boat Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. She was laid down on 29 December 1941 by H. C. Stülcken Sohn at Hamburg and commissioned on 10 February 1943. She was commanded throughout her career by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Schwebcke.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-714
Ordered	7 December 1940
Builder	HC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number	780
Laid down	29 December 1941
Launched	13 November 1942
Commissioned	10 February 1943
Fate	Sunk on 14 March 1945 near Eyemouth, Firth of Forth. 50 dead.
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
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	8,500 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 (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 10 February – 31 July 1943 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1943 – 10 November 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 11 November 1944 – 14 March 1945
Identification codes:	M 50 495
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Schwebcke 10 February 1943 – 14 March 1945
Operations:	6 patrols: 1st patrol: 13 October – 2 December 1943 2nd patrol: a. 11 – 15 January 1944 b. 20 January – 25 February 1944 3rd patrol: a. 6 – 15 June 1944 b. 21 – 25 August 1944 4th patrol: 27 August – 20 October 1944 5th patrol: a. 23 – 28 October 1944 b. 17 – 22 February 1945 6th patrol: 3 – 14 March 1945
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (1,226 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship sunk (425 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-714 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 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).

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-714 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.

Fate

She was sunk on 14 March 1945 near Eyemouth in the Firth of Forth at position by depth charges from the South African frigate HMSAS Natal. HMS Wivern was granted a share of the credit for this kill as well. She had a complement of 50 crew, and when she sank, all of her crew died. She was designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 in 2008.

Wolfpacks

U-714 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

• Körner (30 October – 2 November 1943)
• Tirpitz 1 (2 – 8 November 1943)
• Eisenhart 2 (9 – 15 November 1943)
• Schill 3 (18 – 22 November 1943)
• Weddigen (22 – 30 November 1943)
• Igel 1 (3 – 17 February 1944)

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
10 March 1945	HNoMS Nordhav II	Royal Norwegian Navy	425	Sunk
14 March 1945	Magne	Sweden	1,226	Sunk

References

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). 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, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
• McCartney, Innes (2002). Lost patrols : submarine wrecks of the English Channel. Penzance: Periscope. ISBN 978-1-90438-104-4.

External links

• Images of U714 on Periscope Publishing website
• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-714". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
• Hofmann, Markus. "U 714". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 29 December 2014.
• SI 2008/0950 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986