German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-431 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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-431 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.[2]
Service history
The boat's service began on 5 April 1941 for training as part of the 3rd U-boat Flotilla. Afterwards she transferred to the 29th flotilla operating in the Mediterranean on 1 January 1942. In 16 patrols she sank or damaged 11 ships in total.[1]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-431". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 May 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. 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.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-431". 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, 1940, schichau, werke, danzig, yard, number, 1472, launched, february, 1941, commissioned, april, 1941, under, kapitänleutnant, wilhelm, domme. German submarine U 431 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 4 January 1940 by Schichau Werke in Danzig as yard number 1472 launched on 2 February 1941 and commissioned on 5 April 1941 under Kapitanleutnant Wilhelm Dommes Knight s Cross HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 431Ordered23 September 1939BuilderSchichau Werke DanzigYard number1472Laid down4 January 1940Launched2 February 1941Commissioned5 April 1941FateSunk on 21 October 1943 near Algiers at position 37 23 N 00 35 E 37 383 N 0 583 E 37 383 0 583 Coordinates 37 23 N 00 35 E 37 383 N 0 583 E 37 383 0 583 by depth charges from a RAF Wellington bomber of 179 Squadron All hands were lost 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 hullHeight9 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 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 enlistedArmament4 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes in the bow 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 x 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gunService record 1 Part of 3rd U boat Flotilla 5 April 31 December 1941 29th U boat Flotilla 1 January 1942 21 October 1943Commanders Kptlt Wilhelm Dommes 5 April 1941 6 January 1943 Oblt z S Dietrich Schoneboom 15 December 1942 21 October 1943Operations 16 patrols 1st patrol 10 July 11 August 1941 2nd patrol 13 September 12 October 1941 3rd patrol a 16 November 20 December 1941 b 18 22 January 1942 4th patrol 25 January 10 February 1942 5th patrol 18 March 15 April 1942 6th patrol 14 30 May 1942 7th patrol 4 20 June 1942 8th patrol 2 27 September 1942 9th patrol 29 September 4 November 1942 10th patrol 7 22 November 1942 11th patrol 7 January 8 February 1943 12th patrol 11 29 March 1943 13th patrol 20 29 May 1943 14th patrol 5 27 June 1943 15th patrol 9 August 1 September 1943 16th patrol 26 September 21 October 1943Victories 6 merchant ships sunk 7 679 GRT 2 warships sunk 3 548 tons 1 auxiliary warship sunk 313 GRT 1 merchant ship damaged 3 560 GRT 1 warship damaged 450 tons Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 2 2 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 431 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 AEG GU 460 8 276 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 431 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 2 Service history EditThe boat s service began on 5 April 1941 for training as part of the 3rd U boat Flotilla Afterwards she transferred to the 29th flotilla operating in the Mediterranean on 1 January 1942 In 16 patrols she sank or damaged 11 ships in total 1 Wolfpacks Edit She took part in one wolfpack namely Brandenburg 15 September 1 October 1941 Fate Edit She was sunk on 21 October 1943 in the Mediterranean off Algiers at position 37 23 N 00 35 E 37 383 N 0 583 E 37 383 0 583 by depth charges dropped from a RAF Wellington bomber of 179 Squadron operating out of Gibraltar All hands were lost 1 Summary of raiding history EditDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 3 2 October 1941 Hatasu United Kingdom 3 198 Sunk13 December 1941 Myriel United Kingdom 3 560 Damaged29 January 1942 HMS Sotra Royal Navy 313 Sunk20 May 1942 Eocene United Kingdom 4 216 Sunk15 June 1942 HMS LCT 119 Royal Navy 450 Damaged10 November 1942 HMS Martin Royal Navy 1 920 Sunk13 November 1942 HNLMS Isaac Sweers Royal Netherlands Navy 1 628 Sunk23 January 1943 Alexandria Egypt 100 Sunk25 January 1943 Mouyassar Syria 47 Sunk25 January 1943 Omar el Kattab Syria 38 Sunk26 January 1943 Hassan Syria 80 SunkSee also EditMediterranean U boat Campaign World War II List of Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross recipientsReferences EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit a b c Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 431 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 May 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 431 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 May 2014 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 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 431 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 431 amp oldid 1067625890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
