History
Nazi Germany
NameU-383
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderHowaldtswerke, Kiel
Yard number14
Laid down29 March 1941
Launched22 April 1942
Commissioned6 June 1942
FateSunk on 1 August 1943[1]
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
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[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 101
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Horst Kremser
  • 6 June 1942 – 1 August 1943
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 17 October – 9 December 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 January – 10 March 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 17 April – 25 May 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 27 July – 1 August 1943
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(423 GRT)

German submarine U-383 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 29 March 1941 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Kiel, launched on 22 April 1942, and commissioned on 6 June under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst Kremser.[2]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-383 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] 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-383 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]

Service history

U-383 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training, and then operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 October 1942 to 1 August 1943.[2] She completed four patrols in that time, sinking only one ship, the 423 gross register tons (GRT) Icelandic trawler Jon Olafsson on 24 October 1942,[5] during her first patrol.[3]

On the evening of 1 August 1943 U-383 was attacked west of Brittany, at position 47°24′N 12°10′W / 47.400°N 12.167°W / 47.400; -12.167, by a Short Sunderland of No. 228 Squadron RAF. Responding with flak, the U-boat holed the fuselage and shot away the starboard float and aileron of the aircraft, which pressed home its attack and straddled the U-boat with depth charges before heading back to base. Kremser radioed for assistance, and though three U-boats and three torpedo boats searched during the night and the next day, they failed to locate the crippled U-383 and she was presumed lost.[2]

Wolfpacks

U-383 took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:

  • Puma (26 – 29 October 1942)
  • Natter (30 October – 8 November 1942)
  • Kreuzotter (8 – 18 November 1942)
  • Habicht (10 – 19 January 1943)
  • Haudegen (19 January – 15 February 1943)
  • Sturmbock (23 – 26 February 1943)
  • Amsel (22 April – 3 May 1943)
  • Amsel 2 (3 – 6 May 1943)
  • Elbe (7 – 10 May 1943)
  • Elbe 2 (10 – 14 May 1943)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[6]
24 October 1942 Jon Olafsson  Iceland 423 Sunk

References

  1. ↑ Kemp 1999, p. 138.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-383". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-383". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Jon Olafsson (Steam trawler)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-383". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. 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. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
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