German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-421 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 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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-421 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. 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 13 January 1943, followed by active service on 1 November 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla. On 1 April 1944, she transferred to 29th Flotilla for operations in the Mediterranean for the remainder of her service. In two patrols she sank no ships.[1]
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). 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. 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.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-421". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, january, 1942, danziger, werft, danzig, yard, number, launched, september, 1942, commissioned, january, 1943, under, oberleutnant, hans, kolbus, histor. German submarine U 421 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 20 January 1942 by Danziger Werft Danzig as yard number 122 launched on 24 September 1942 and commissioned on 13 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans Kolbus HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 421Ordered10 April 1941BuilderDanziger Werft DanzigYard number122Laid down20 January 1942Launched24 September 1942Commissioned13 January 1943FateSunk on 29 April 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 43 07 N 05 55 E 43 117 N 5 917 E 43 117 5 917 in an air raid by US aircraft General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullDraught4 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 motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 5 in SK L 45 deck gun 220 rounds various anti aircraft gunsService record 1 Part of 8th U boat Flotilla 13 January 31 October 1943 9th U boat Flotilla 1 November 1943 31 March 1944 29th U boat Flotilla 1 29 April 1944Commanders Oblt z S Hans Kolbus 13 January 1943 29 April 1944Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 6 November 1943 8 January 1944 2nd patrol 19 February 1 April 1944Victories None Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 2 2 Fate 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 421 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 Siemens Schuckert GU 343 38 8 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 421 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 two twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 2 Service history EditThe boat s career began with training at 8th U boat Flotilla on 13 January 1943 followed by active service on 1 November 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla On 1 April 1944 she transferred to 29th Flotilla for operations in the Mediterranean for the remainder of her service In two patrols she sank no ships 1 Wolfpacks Edit U 421 took part in six wolfpacks namely Coronel 4 8 December 1943 Coronel 1 8 14 December 1943 Coronel 2 14 17 December 1943 Fohr 18 23 December 1943 Rugen 6 23 26 December 1943 Hela 28 December 1943 1 January 1944 Fate Edit U 421 was sunk on 29 April 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 43 07 N 05 55 E 43 117 N 5 917 E 43 117 5 917 at the military port of Toulon France in an air raid by US aircraft 1 See also EditMediterranean U boat Campaign World War II References Edit a b c Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 421 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 September 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Bibliography 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 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 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 Sharpe Peter 1998 U Boat Fact File Great Britain Midland Publishing ISBN 1 85780 072 9 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 421 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 26 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 421 amp oldid 1067227192, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
