German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-657 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]
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).[4] 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-657 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.[4]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 8 October 1941, followed by active service on 1 March 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla in La Pallice, France. Four months later, she transferred to 11th Flotilla, in Bergen, Norway, for the remainder of her service.[1]
In seven patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 5,196 gross register tons (GRT).
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-657". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 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.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-657". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, october, 1940, howaldtswerke, hamburg, yard, number, launched, august, 1941, commissioned, october, 1941, under, oberleutnant, hans, jürgen, radke, his. German submarine U 657 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 5 October 1940 by Howaldtswerke Hamburg as yard number 806 launched on 12 August 1941 and commissioned on 8 October 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jurgen Radke HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 657Ordered9 October 1939BuilderHowaldtswerke HamburgYard number806Laid down5 October 1940Launched12 August 1941Commissioned8 October 1941FateSunk on 17 May 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 58 54 N 42 33 W 58 900 N 42 550 W 58 900 42 550 Coordinates 58 54 N 42 33 W 58 900 N 42 550 W 58 900 42 550 by depth charges from HMS Swale 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 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 x 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gunService record 1 Part of 8th U boat Flotilla 8 October 1941 28 February 1942 3rd U boat Flotilla 1 March 30 June 1942 11th U boat Flotilla 1 July 1942 17 May 1943Commanders Oblt z S Hans Jurgen Radke 2 8 October 14 December 1941 K Kapt Heinrich Gollnitz 3 20 December 1941 17 May 1943Operations 7 patrols 1st patrol 26 March 11 April 1942 2nd patrol 17 June 9 July 1942 3rd patrol a 23 July 16 August 1942 b 17 20 August 1942 c 22 27 August 1942 d 4 November 1942 e 12 13 November 1942 f 14 15 November 1942 g 18 21 November 1942 4th patrol a 22 November 25 December 1942 b 20 21 January 1943 5th patrol 23 January 14 February 1943 6th patrol a 15 February 15 March 1943 b 16 19 March 1943 c 24 28 April 1943 7th patrol 4 17 May 1943Victories 1 merchant ship sunk 5 196 GRT Radke was killed in a fire while the boat was undergoing trials on 14 December 1941 2 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 2 2 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 657 had a displacement of 769 tonnes 757 long tons when at the surface and 871 tonnes 857 long tons while submerged 4 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 4 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 4 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 657 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 4 Service history EditThe boat s career began with training at 8th U boat Flotilla on 8 October 1941 followed by active service on 1 March 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla in La Pallice France Four months later she transferred to 11th Flotilla in Bergen Norway for the remainder of her service 1 In seven patrols she sank one merchant ship for a total of 5 196 gross register tons GRT Wolfpacks Edit U 657 took part in six wolfpacks namely Naseweis 31 March 10 April 1942 Eisteufel 21 June 8 July 1942 Nebelkonig 27 July 14 August 1942 Nordwind 24 January 4 February 1943 Iller 12 15 May 1943 Donau 1 15 17 May 1943 Fate Edit U 657 was sunk on 17 May 1943 in the North Atlantic E of Cape Farewell Greenland in position 58 54 N 42 33 W 58 900 N 42 550 W 58 900 42 550 by depth charges from Royal Navy frigate HMS Swale All hands were lost Summary of raiding history EditDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 5 17 May 1943 Aymeric United Kingdom 5 196 SunkReferences Edit a b Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 657 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 1 September 2014 a b Helgason Gudmundur Hans Jurgen Radke German U boats of World War II Uboat net Retrieved 21 April 2015 Helgason Gudmundur Heinrich Gollnitz German U boats of World War II Uboat net Retrieved 21 April 2015 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 657 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 1 September 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 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 657 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 657 amp oldid 1076679518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
