History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-741 |
Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
Builder | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
Yard number | 1544 |
Laid down | 30 April 1942 |
Launched | 4 February 1943 |
Commissioned | 10 April 1943 |
Fate | Sunk on 15 August 1944 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record [1] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 41 306 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
1 warship total loss (1,625 tons) |
German submarine U-741 was a Type VIIC U-boat built by F Schichau GmbH of Danzig and commissioned on 10 April 1943. [1]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-741 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 460/8–27 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-741 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. [2]
On 5 July 1944, U-741 departed Brest under the protection of 4 Vorpostenboot escort trawlers. Escort Group 12, Royal Canadian Navy, detected the German force on radar and intercepted it, engaging in the vicinity of the Pierres Noires lighthouse ( Battle of Pierres Noires) in the late evening. U-741 managed to escape, but one of the German escorts was sunk.
On 15 August 1944, she attacked convoy FTM-69 and torpedoed the Royal Navy Tank Landing ship HMS LST-404, 35 miles South East of St. Catherine's Point causing extensive damage and seven fatalities. Although the vessel was beached, she later broke in two and was declared a total loss. [3] Convoy escorts counter-attacked; the corvette HMS Orchis is credited with the destruction of U-741. Orchis rescued one survivor. [1]
The wreck was identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney in 2000 near the position given by the Allies.
In five patrols U-741 accounted for the total loss of one warship, for a total of 1,625 tons.
U-741 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage [Note 1] | Fate [4] |
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15 August 1944 | HMS LST-404 | Royal Navy | 1,625 | Total loss |