U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-975.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-975
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number175
Laid down10 July 1942
Launched24 March 1943
Commissioned29 April 1943
FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 10 February 1946
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
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 43 633
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Joachim Ebersbach[1]
  • 29 April – 16 November 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Paul Frerks[2]
  • 17 November 1943 – 16 March 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Hubert Jeschke[3]
  • 17 March – 16 July 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter-Ernst Koch[4]
  • 17 July 1944 – 23 April 1945
  • Kptlt. Wilhelm Brauel[5]
  • 24 April – 9 May 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • a. 8 – 26 June 1944
  • b. 28 June 1944
  • c. 30 June – 1 July 1944
  • d. 2 – 4 July 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-975 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 10 July 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 175. She was launched on 24 March 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Ebersbach on 29 April 1943.[6]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-975 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[7] 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).[7]

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).[7] 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-975 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[7]

Service history

On 9 May 1945, U-975 surrendered at Horten, Norway. She was later transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 27 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-975 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-975 was towed out on 10 February 1946, and sunk by the British frigate HMS Loch Arkaig.[6]

The wreck is located at 55°42′N 09°01′W / 55.700°N 9.017°W / 55.700; -9.017.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans-Joachim Ebersbach". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Paul Frerks". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hubert Jeschke". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Walter-Ernst Koch". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Wilhelm Brauel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-975". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

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] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • 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.
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