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German submarine U-317

(Redirected from Unterseeboot 317)

German submarine U-317 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-317
Ordered14 October 1941
BuilderFlender Werke, Lübeck
Yard number317
Laid down12 September 1942
Launched1 September 1943
Commissioned23 October 1943
FateSunk on 26 June 1944[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC/41 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
  • 250 m (820 ft)
  • Crush depth: 275–325 m (902–1,066 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 53 454
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Peter Rahlf
  • 23 October 1943 – 26 June 1944
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 31 May – 2 June 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 21 – 26 June 1944
Victories: None

The submarine was laid down on 12 September 1942 at the Flender Werke at Lübeck, launched on 1 September 1943, and commissioned on 23 October 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Peter Rahlf.

Design

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German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-317 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 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-317 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.[4]

Service history

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U-317 served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, and later with the 9th U-boat Flotilla in front-line service from 1 to 26 June 1944.[2]

U-317's first patrol took her from Kiel in Germany to Egersund in Norway, between 31 May and 2 June 1944. She then sailed from Egersund on 21 June for her second and final patrol.[3]

U-317 was sunk with all hands on 26 June 1944, northeast of the Shetland islands, in position 62°3′N 1°45′E / 62.050°N 1.750°E / 62.050; 1.750, by depth charges dropped by a Liberator anti-submarine bomber of No. 86 Squadron RAF.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 199.
  2. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-317". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-317". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

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  • Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
  • 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; 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
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  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VII/C41 boat U-317". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 317". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2014.
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