German submarine U-921 (original) (raw)

German World War II submarine

U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-921.
History
Nazi Germany
Name U-921
Ordered 6 June 1941
Builder Neptun Werft AG, Rostock
Yard number 508
Laid down 15 October 1941
Launched 3 April 1943
Commissioned 30 May 1943
Fate Missing since 24 September 1944
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 220 m (720 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament 5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of: 8th U-boat Flotilla 30 May 1943 – 31 May 1944 13th U-boat Flotilla 1 June – 24 September 1944
Identification codes: M 50 627
Commanders: Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Leu[1] 30 May 1943 – 24 May 1944 Lt.z.S. Hans-Joachim Neumann[2] 24 – 31 May 1944 Oblt.z.S. Alfred Werner[3] 1 June – 24 September 1944
Operations: 2 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 2 July – 7 August 1944 b. 8 – 9 August 1944 c. 2 – 3 September 1944 2nd patrol: 5 – 24 September 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-921 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 6 June 1941, and was laid down on 15 October 1941 at Neptun Werft AG, Rostock, as yard number 508. She was launched on 3 April 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Leu on 30 May 1943.[4]

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-921 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[5] 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 SSW 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).[5]

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).[5] 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-921 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, 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 twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[5]

On 24 May 1944, U-921 was spotted off Norway, en route to Narvik, by a Canadian Sunderland, DV990, of 422/R Squadron RCAF piloted by F/O G.E. Holley. U-921 had been searching for U-476 which had been attacked from the air earlier in the day and badly damaged. U-921 was able to hit the Sunderland on its attack run causing it to crash into the sea after dropping three depth charges, which resulted in no damage to U-921 but all the crewmen of the Sunderland were lost.[4]

Shortly after this first attack U-921 was sighted by another Canadian Sunderland, DW111, of 423/S Squadron RCAF piloted by F/L R.H. Nesbitt. U-921 was able to avoid the five depth charges dropped by the Sunderland but strafing wounded the commander, Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Leu, and two other crewmen. As U-921 was diving, Leu was able to get both of the wounded crewmen below, but then closed the hatch to prevent her from sinking, sacrificing himself. U-921 sailed for Trondheim, arriving 26 May 1944, under command of her I. WO (1st Wachoffizier) Leutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Neumann.[4]

On 24 September 1944, 20 days into her second war patrol, U-921 sent her last radio transmission from 74°45′N 13°50′E / 74.750°N 13.833°E / 74.750; 13.833, west of Bear Island in the Norwegian Sea, in which she stated that, due to unspecified damage, she needed to return to port. U-921 was ordered to continue to operate against Convoy RA 60 and postpone her return. On 2 October 1944 she was listed as missing when, after the end of the convoy battle, she failed to return to Narvik.[4]

U-921 took part in one wolfpack, namely:[4]

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Wolfgang Leu". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans-Joachim Neumann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Alfred Werner". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-921". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.