German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-737 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 460/8–27 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-737 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 was attacked twice by aircraft while on active service. Once early in 1944, by a RAF British Liberatoraircraft. She managed to damage the plane with anti-aircraft fire, which had to abort the attack and was forced to make a belly landing because of damage sustained. In later 1944, the U-boat was attacked by a Soviet plane, three crew were injured, before she dived.
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-737". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gunther Pfeffer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, built, service, during, world, keel, laid, down, february, 1942, schichau, werke, danzig, commissioned, january, 1943, with, oberleutnant, wolfgang, poeschel, command, historynazi, germanynameu,. German submarine U 737 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II Her keel was laid down on 14 February 1942 by Schichau Werke of Danzig She was commissioned on 30 January 1943 with Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Poeschel in command HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 737Ordered10 April 1941BuilderSchichau Werke DanzigYard number1534Laid down14 February 1942Launched21 November 1942Commissioned30 January 1943FateSunk on 19 December 1944General 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 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 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService record 1 Part of 8th U boat Flotilla 30 January 30 June 1943 13th U boat Flotilla 1 July 1943 19 December 1944Commanders Oblt z S Wolfgang Poeschel 30 January 4 February 1943 Kptlt Paul Brasack 5 February 1943 24 November 1944 Oblt z S Friedrich August Greus 25 November 19 December 1944Operations 9 patrols 1st patrol 8 August 20 September 1943 2nd patrol a 4 23 October 1943 b 24 October 1943 c 27 29 October 1943 d 13 15 January 1944 3rd patrol a 16 January 10 February 1944 b 11 12 February 1944 c 28 29 February 1944 4th patrol a 1 8 March 1944 b 9 12 March 1944 c 2 4 May 1944 d 8 May 1944 5th patrol a 13 May 7 June 1944 b 11 12 June 1944 c 14 18 June 1944 6th patrol a 24 June 9 July 1944 b 15 17 July 1944 c 16 21 September 1944 d 22 September 1944 7th patrol 24 September 3 October 1944 8th patrol a 12 24 October 1944 b 25 31 October 1944 9th patrol 13 19 December 1944Victories None Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 3 Fate 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 737 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 27 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 737 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 was attacked twice by aircraft while on active service Once early in 1944 by a RAF British Liberator aircraft She managed to damage the plane with anti aircraft fire which had to abort the attack and was forced to make a belly landing because of damage sustained In later 1944 the U boat was attacked by a Soviet plane three crew were injured before she dived Wolfpacks Edit U 737 took part in eight wolfpacks namely Monsun 4 22 October 1943 Isegrim 16 27 January 1944 Werwolf 27 January 9 February 1944 Taifun 5 7 March 1944 Trutz 2 6 June 1944 Feuer 17 19 September 1944 Grimm 24 September 2 October 1944 Panther 16 23 October 1944 Fate EditWhile on active duty under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich August Greus U 737 sank at 00 18 on 19 December 1944 in the Vestfjorden in position 68 09 N 15 39 E 68 150 N 15 650 E 68 150 15 650 Coordinates 68 09 N 15 39 E 68 150 N 15 650 E 68 150 15 650 She had collided with German depot ship MRS 25 31 crew died with 20 survivors References Edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 737 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 15 October 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 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 737 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Helgason Gudmundur Gunther Pfeffer 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 737 amp oldid 1078400937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
