German submarine U-447 (original) (raw)

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German World War II submarine
History
Nazi Germany
Name U-447
Ordered 6 August 1940
Builder Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number 1507
Laid down 1 July 1941
Launched 30 April 1942
Commissioned 11 July 1942
Fate Sunk on 7 May 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 35°30′N 11°55′W / 35.500°N 11.917°W / 35.500; -11.917, by depth charges from RAF Hudson.
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 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record[1]
Part of: 8th U-boat Flotilla 11 July 1942 – 28 February 1943 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 7 May 1943
Identification codes: M 17 865
Commanders: Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Bothe 11 July 1942 – 7 May 1943
Operations: 2 patrols: 1st patrol: 20 February – 24 March 1943 2nd patrol: 27 April – 7 May 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-447 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 July 1941 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1507, launched on 30 April 1942 and commissioned on 11 July 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-Wilhelm Bothe.

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-447 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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-447 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 11 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 March 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In 2 patrols she sank no ships.[1]

U-447 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

U-447 was sunk on 7 May 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 35°30′N 11°55′W / 35.500°N 11.917°W / 35.500; -11.917, by depth charges from 2 RAF Hudson bombers from 233 Squadron. All crew members died.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-447". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.