German submarine U-707
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-706 |
| Operator: | Kriegsmarine |
| Ordered: | 9 October 1939 |
| Builder: | H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 771 |
| Launched: | 18 December 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 1 July 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk on 9 November 1943 off the Azores at 40°31′N 20°17′W / 40.517°N 20.283°WCoordinates: 40°31′N 20°17′W / 40.517°N 20.283°W |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: |
|
| Beam: |
|
| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| Range: | 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Test depth: |
|
| Complement: | 44–60 officers & ratings |
| Armament: |
|
German submarine U-707 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Ordered 6 August 1940, she was laid down 2 January 1941 and launched 18 December 1941. She had a relatively brief career from 1 July 1942 to 9 November 1943, and during this time she was commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Günther Gretschel.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-707 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-707 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
Patrol History
During her career, U-707 sunk two ships, for a total tonnage of 11,811 GRT, namely the US freighter Jonathan Sturges, a straggler of convoy ON 166, and the British freighter North Britain also a straggler of convoy ONS 5.
She participated in nine wolfpacks, namely,
- Haudegen (26 January – 2 February 1943)
- Nordsturm (2–9 February 1943)
- Haudegen (9–15 February 1943) rejoined
- Taifun (15–20 February 1943)
- Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
- Fink (4–6 May 1943)
- Naab (12–15 May 1943)
- Donau 2 (15–26 May 1943)
- Schill (25 October – 9 November 1943)
Fate
While on patrol east of the Azores, she was depth charged and sunk on 9 November 1943 from a RAF Fortress aircraft, from Sqdn. 220/J R.A.F, at position 40°31′N 20°17′W / 40.517°N 20.283°W. She was lost with all hands; 51 dead.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 February 1943 | Jonathan Sturges |  United States |
7,176 | Sunk |
| 5 May 1943 | North Britain |  United Kingdom |
4,635 | Sunk |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-707". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-707". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.