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German_submarine_U-741 Latitude and Longitude:

50°02′N 00°36′W / 50.033°N 0.600°W / 50.033; -0.600
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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-741
Ordered5 June 1941
Builder Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1544
Laid down30 April 1942
Launched4 February 1943
Commissioned10 April 1943
FateSunk on 15 August 1944
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC 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
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 306
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Gerhard Palmgren
  • 10 April 1943 – 15 August 1944
Operations:
  • 5 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 November 1943 – 27 January 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 February – 3 May 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 19 – 29 June 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 5 – 15 July 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 3 – 15 August 1944
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]

Design

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]

Service history

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.

Wolfpacks

U-741 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

  • Coronel 1 (14 – 17 December 1943)
  • Sylt (18 – 23 December 1943)
  • Rügen 2 (23 – 28 December 1943)
  • Rügen 1 (28 December 1943 – 7 January 1944)
  • Rügen (7 – 14 January 1944)
  • Preussen (7 – 22 March 1944)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage [Note 1] Fate [4]
15 August 1944 HMS LST-404   Royal Navy 1,625 Total loss

References

Notes

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-741". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Tank landing ship of the LST class:HMS LST 404". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-741". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 November 2014.

Bibliography

External links

50°02′N 00°36′W / 50.033°N 0.600°W / 50.033; -0.600