German submarine U-739
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-739 |
| Ordered: | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
| Yard number: | 1536 |
| Laid down: | 17 April 1942 |
| Launched: | 23 December 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 6 March 1943 |
| Fate: | Surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Emden. Sunk on 16 December 1945, in position 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°WCoordinates: 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W in Operation Deadlight. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: |
|
| Beam: |
|
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| Range: | |
| Test depth: |
|
| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | 1 warship sunk (625 tons) |
German submarine U-739 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 April 1942 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1536, launched on 23 December 1942 and commissioned on 6 March 1943 under Leutnant zur See Ernst Mangold.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-739 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-739 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.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 6 March 1943, followed by active service on 1 November 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla. Just two months later she transferred to 13th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In eight patrols she sank one warship for a total of 625 tons.
Wolfpacks
U-739 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely
- Isegrim (16–27 January 1944)
- Werwolf (27 January – 2 February 1944)
- Boreas (28 February – 5 March 1944)
- Keil (16–20 April 1944)
- Donner & Keil (20 April – 3 May 1944)
- Trutz (7–10 July 1944)
- Greif (5 August – 26 September 1944)
- Rasmus (6–13 February 1945)
Fate
U-739 surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Emden. Sunk later on 16 December 1945, in position 56°10′N 10°05′W / 56.167°N 10.083°W in Operation Deadlight.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 September 1944 | T-120 |  Soviet Navy |
625 | Sunk |
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-739". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-739". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 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.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-739". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.