German submarine U-708 was a Type VIICU-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Ordered 6 August 1940, she was laid down 31 March 1941 and launched 24 March 1942. She was used only for training, and was captained by four different commanders during her 3-year life. She was scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven and her wreck was broken up in 1947.
U-708 was the only known U-boat with such emblem: white seahorse on a red shield
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-708 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-708 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.[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.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-708". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
May 04, 2024
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, ordered, august, 1940, laid, down, march, 1941, launched, march, 1942, used, only, training, captained, four, different, commanders, during, year, life, scuttled, 1945, wilhelmsha. German submarine U 708 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II Ordered 6 August 1940 she was laid down 31 March 1941 and launched 24 March 1942 She was used only for training and was captained by four different commanders during her 3 year life She was scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven and her wreck was broken up in 1947 U 708 was the only known U boat with such emblem white seahorse on a red shieldHistory Nazi Germany NameU 708 Ordered6 August 1940 BuilderH C Stulcken Sohn Hamburg Yard number772 Laid down31 March 1941 Launched24 March 1942 Commissioned24 July 1942 FateScuttled on 5 May 1945 in Wilhelmshaven General characteristics Class and typeType VIIC submarine Displacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submerged Length67 10 m 220 ft 2 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 nautical miles 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph Test depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement44 60 officers amp ratings 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 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns Service record Part of 8th U boat Flotilla 24 July 1942 30 September 1943 7th U boat Flotilla 1 October 1943 1 February 1944 5th U boat Flotilla 1 February 1 April 1944 21st U boat Flotilla 1 April 1944 15 March 1945 31st U boat Flotilla 16 March 5 May 1945Identification codes M 28 568Commanders Oblt z S Werner Heintze 24 July 1942 June 1943 Oblt z S Klaus Andersen June 1943 29 February 1944 Oblt z S Ewald Pick 1 March 14 April 1944 Oblt z S Herbert Kuhn 15 April 1944 5 May 1945Operations NoneVictories None Contents 1 Design 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 708 had a displacement of 769 tonnes 757 long tons when at the surface and 871 tonnes 857 long tons while submerged 1 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 1 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 1 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 708 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 1 References edit 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 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 708 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 708 amp oldid 1214191975, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
