German submarine U-327 (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

German World War II submarine
History
Nazi Germany
Name U-327
Ordered 16 July 1942
Builder Flender Werke, Lübeck
Yard number 327
Laid down 15 April 1943
Launched 27 May 1944
Commissioned 18 July 1944
Fate Sunk by British warships on 3 February 1945[1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement 759 tonnes (747 long tons) surfaced 860 t (846 long tons) submerged
Length 67.23 m (220 ft 7 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 250 m (820 ft) Crush depth: 275–325 m (902–1,066 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) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record[1][2]
Part of: 4th U-boat Flotilla 18 July 1944 – 31 January 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 – 3 February 1945
Identification codes: M 36 449
Commanders: Kptlt. Hans Lemcke 18 July 1944 – 3 February 1945
Operations: 3 patrols: 1st patrol: 20 – 24 January 1945 2nd patrol: 28 – 29 January 1945 3rd patrol: 30 January – 3 February 1945
Victories: None

German submarine U-327 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out three patrols, but did not sink any ships.

The boat was sunk on 3 February 1945 by British warships in the Norwegian Sea north-west of Bergen.[1]

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-327 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-327 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.[3]

The submarine was laid down on 15 April 1943 by the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 327, launched on 27 May 1944 and commissioned on 18 July under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Lemcke.

She served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, from 18 July 1944 to 31 January 1945 and the 11th flotilla for operations until her sinking on 3 February.

U-327 departed Kiel on 20 January 1945 and arrived in Horten Naval Base in Norway (south of Oslo), on the 24th.

The boat left Horten on 28 January 1945. She arrived at Kristiansand the next day.

Third patrol and loss

[edit]

U-327 commenced her third patrol on 30 January 1945. On 3 February she was sunk by depth charges dropped by the British frigates HMS Bayntun, HMS Braithwaite and HMS Loch Eck.[1]

Forty-six men died; there were no survivors.

Previously recorded fate

[edit]

The boat was reported missing after 31 January 1945 southwest of the British coast.

  1. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-327". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-327". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.