German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-325 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 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 superchargeddiesel 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-325 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Service historyedit
U-325's first patrol took her from Kiel in Germany to Horten Naval Base in Norway, between 1 and 4 December 1944.[4] She then sailed from Horten on 9 December 1944, and around the British Isles into the western English Channel, before returning to Trondheim on 14 February 1945, although she recorded no successes.[5]
Lossedit
U-325 sailed from Trondheim on 20 March 1945 for her third and final patrol and was ordered to return to the waters off Lands End. Even though her last report was received on 7 April,[1] when Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945 U-325 was still considered operational by the U-boat High Command. However it soon became apparent that the submarine was lost.
The British initially attributed the loss of U-325 to a depth charge attack by the destroyers HMS Hesperus and Havelock on 30 April 1945. However, after later analysis of German records that submarine was re-identified as U-242, and U-325's fate was officially classified as "unknown".[6]
Discoveryedit
The wreck of U-325 was finally discovered by Scuba divers in 2006, 17 kilometres (11 mi) South of Lizard Point at position 49°48′17″N5°12′23″W / 49.804717°N 5.206383°W / 49.804717; -5.206383. To counter the increasing number of schnorkel-fitted U-boats in UK coastal waters, the First Sea Lord ordered a heavy anti-U-boat mining programme to be undertaken in the Western Approaches, Plymouth and Portsmouth Commands on 15 January 1945. By April 1945, nine different fields (Serial B1, part 1 to 4, Serial B2, part 1 to 4, and Serial B3, part 1), comprising 900 Mk XVII/XVII(8) mines were laid off Lizard Head. U-325 struck a mine in field B3, part 1. This field was laid by the coastal minelayerHMS Plover escorted by the minesweepers HMS lfracombe and Shippigan.[7]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-325 from 1 Dec 1944 to 4 Dec 1944". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-325 from 9 Dec 1944 to 14 Feb 1945". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
^"War Mystery Solved". cix.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
^Niestlé, A. 2010. The 'Atlas' Survey Zone: Deep-sea Archaeology & U-boat Loss Reassessments. PDF 29 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
Bibliographyedit
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: 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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN1-85409-515-3.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VII/C41 boat U-325". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 325". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2014.
"Geheimes Minenfeld: Drei deutsche U-Boote vor britischer Küste gefunden". Der Spiegel (in German). spiegel.de. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The loss of U-325, U-400 and U-1021". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
May 04, 2024
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, history, nazi, germany, nameu, ordered16, july, 1942, builderflender, werke, lübeck, yard, number325, laid, down13, april, 1943, launched25, march, 1944, commissioned6, 1944, fate. German submarine U 325 was a Type VIIC 41 U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II History Nazi Germany NameU 325 Ordered16 July 1942 BuilderFlender Werke Lubeck Yard number325 Laid down13 April 1943 Launched25 March 1944 Commissioned6 May 1944 FateSunk on 30 April 1945 1 General characteristics Class and typeType VIIC 41 submarine Displacement759 tonnes 747 long tons surfaced 860 t 846 long tons submerged Length67 23 m 220 ft 7 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hull Beam6 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 power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motors Speed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submerged Range8 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 depth250 m 820 ft Crush depth 275 325 m 902 1 066 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlisted Armament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 AA gun 2 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA guns Service record 1 2 Part of 4th U boat Flotilla 6 May 30 November 1944 11th U boat Flotilla 1 December 1944 30 April 1945Identification codes M 14 343Commanders Oblt z S Erwin Dohrn 6 May 1944 30 April 1945Operations 3 patrols 1st patrol 1 4 December 1944 2nd patrol 9 December 1944 14 February 1945 3rd patrol 20 March 30 April 1945Victories None The submarine was laid down on 13 April 1943 at the Flender Werke at Lubeck launched on 25 March 1944 and commissioned on 6 May 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erwin Dohrn 1 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Loss 3 Discovery 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC 41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines U 325 had a displacement of 759 tonnes 747 long tons when at the surface and 860 tonnes 850 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 amp 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 325 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 one 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 and two 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 3 Service history editU 325 s first patrol took her from Kiel in Germany to Horten Naval Base in Norway between 1 and 4 December 1944 4 She then sailed from Horten on 9 December 1944 and around the British Isles into the western English Channel before returning to Trondheim on 14 February 1945 although she recorded no successes 5 Loss edit U 325 sailed from Trondheim on 20 March 1945 for her third and final patrol and was ordered to return to the waters off Lands End Even though her last report was received on 7 April 1 when Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945 U 325 was still considered operational by the U boat High Command However it soon became apparent that the submarine was lost The British initially attributed the loss of U 325 to a depth charge attack by the destroyers HMS Hesperus and Havelock on 30 April 1945 However after later analysis of German records that submarine was re identified as U 242 and U 325 s fate was officially classified as unknown 6 Discovery editThe wreck of U 325 was finally discovered by Scuba divers in 2006 17 kilometres 11 mi South of Lizard Point at position 49 48 17 N 5 12 23 W 49 804717 N 5 206383 W 49 804717 5 206383 To counter the increasing number of schnorkel fitted U boats in UK coastal waters the First Sea Lord ordered a heavy anti U boat mining programme to be undertaken in the Western Approaches Plymouth and Portsmouth Commands on 15 January 1945 By April 1945 nine different fields Serial B1 part 1 to 4 Serial B2 part 1 to 4 and Serial B3 part 1 comprising 900 Mk XVII XVII 8 mines were laid off Lizard Head U 325 struck a mine in field B3 part 1 This field was laid by the coastal minelayer HMS Plover escorted by the minesweepers HMS lfracombe and Shippigan 7 See also editBattle of the Atlantic 1939 1945 References edit a b c d Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC 41 boat U 325 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 4 January 2010 Helgason Gudmundur War Patrols by German U boat U 325 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 4 January 2010 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Patrol of U boat U 325 from 1 Dec 1944 to 4 Dec 1944 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 4 January 2010 Helgason Gudmundur Patrol of U boat U 325 from 9 Dec 1944 to 14 Feb 1945 U boat patrols uboat net Retrieved 4 January 2010 War Mystery Solved cix co uk Retrieved 4 January 2010 Niestle A 2010 The Atlas Survey Zone Deep sea Archaeology amp U boat Loss Reassessments PDF Archived 29 April 2012 at the Wayback MachineBibliography editBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll Hans Joachim 1999 Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 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 Groner 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 Kemp Paul 1999 U Boats Destroyed German Submarine Losses in the World Wars London Arms amp Armour ISBN 1 85409 515 3 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VII C41 boat U 325 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 6 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 325 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 6 December 2014 Geheimes Minenfeld Drei deutsche U Boote vor britischer Kuste gefunden Der Spiegel in German spiegel de 22 December 2006 Retrieved 4 January 2010 Helgason Gudmundur The loss of U 325 U 400 and U 1021 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 4 January 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 325 amp oldid 1211415996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
