German submarine U-761

German submarine U-761 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-761.
History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-761
Ordered: 9 October 1939
Builder: Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven
Yard number: 144
Laid down: 16 December 1940
Launched: 26 September 1942
Commissioned: 3 December 1942
Fate: Scuttled, 24 February 1944
General characteristics
Class and type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.74 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)
Complement: 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Horst Geider[1]
  • 3 December 1942 – 24 February 1944
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories: None

She was ordered on 9 October 1939, and was laid down on 16 December 1940, at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 144. She was launched on 26 September 1942, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst Geider on 3 December 1942.[2]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-761 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-761 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[3]

Service history

U-761 participated in two war patrols that yielded no ships sunk or damaged.[2]

On 24 February 1944, U-761 was badly damaged by depth charges and scuttled after being attacked by British destroyers Anthony and Wishart, an RAF Catalina of 202 Sqn RAF/G, a USN Ventura of VB-127 USN/B-46 and two USN Catalina's of VP-63 USN/P-14 & 15. Oblt.z.S. Horst Geider and 47 other crewmen, of a crew of 57, survived the attack.[2]

The wreck now lies at 35°55′N 05°45′W.[2]

Wolfpacks

U-761 took part in three wolfpacks, namely.[2]

  • Coronel (4 December 1943 — 8 December 1943)
  • Coronel 1 (8 December 1943 - 14 December 1943)
  • Coronel 2 (14 December 1943 - 16 December 1943)
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References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Horst Geider". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-761". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.
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