U-801 was ordered on 7 December 1940 from DeSchiMAGSeebeckwerft in Geestemünde under the yard number 359. Her keel was laid down on 30 September 1941 and after eleven months of construction the U-boat was launched the following year on 31 October 1942. About six months later she was commissioned into service under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans-Joachim Brans (Crew 35) in the 4th U-boat Flotilla.
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-801 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[1] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 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 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-801 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[1]
Service historyEdit
After a collision in the Baltic during work-up for deployment, U-801, now part of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla, left Swinemünde together with U-421 and U-734 on 7 November 1943 for Norway. Via Kristiansand and Stavanger, the U-boats reached Bergen two days later. Leaving Bergen the next week, U-801 joined wolfpack Coronel operating against convoy ONS 24 in the North Atlantic on 2 December 1943. For the rest of the month she patrolled in her assigned operation area and joined two more wolf-packs, Coronel 2 and Borkum until technical problems forced her to make for port. U-801 reached Lorient on 8 January 1944.
Her second patrol would have led her into the Indian Ocean as part of Monsun group, however U-801 was detected by a submarine hunter group three weeks into her journey. The submarine surfaced on the evening of March 16th only to be attacked by aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Block Island. The U-boat dived and managed to evade the hunters until the early hours of the March 17th, when the U-801 skipper erred and sent a radio message. USS Corry ran down the bearing of the transmission, and she and USS Bronstein methodically boxed in the U-801, forcing her to surface. On the surface, she was immediately attacked by Corry. Nine crew members lost their lives in the attack. The crew abandoned and scuttled their boat. The remaining crew were picked up by Corry and later transferred to Block Island.[2] The 47 survivors were brought to Norfolk, Virginia and spent the rest of the war in captivity.[3]
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]. ISBN3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. ISBN0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
External linksEdit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-801". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, historynazi, germanynameu, 801ordered7, december, 1940builderdeschimag, seebeckwerft, bremerhavenyard, number359laid, down30, september, 1941launched31, october, 1942commissioned. German submarine U 801 was a Type IXC 40 U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 801Ordered7 December 1940BuilderDeSchiMAG Seebeckwerft BremerhavenYard number359Laid down30 September 1941Launched31 October 1942Commissioned24 March 1943FateScuttled off Cape Verde on 17 March 1944 at 16 42 N 30 28 W 16 700 N 30 467 W 16 700 30 467General characteristicsClass and typeType IXC 40 submarineDisplacement1 144 t 1 126 long tons surfaced 1 257 t 1 237 long tons submergedLength76 76 m 251 ft 10 in o a 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in pressure hullBeam6 86 m 22 ft 6 in o a 4 44 m 14 ft 7 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 67 m 15 ft 4 in Installed power4 400 PS 3 200 kW 4 300 bhp diesels 1 000 PS 740 kW 990 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed19 knots 35 km h 22 mph surfaced 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph submergedRange13 850 nmi 25 650 km 15 940 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 63 nmi 117 km 72 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Complement4 officers 44 enlistedArmament6 torpedo tubes 4 bow 2 stern 22 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes 1 10 5 cm 4 1 in SK C 32 deck gun 180 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 AA gun 1 twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA gunsService recordPart of 4th U boat Flotilla 24 March 31 October 1943 2nd U boat Flotilla 1 November 1943 17 March 1944Commanders Kptlt Hans Joachim Brans 24 March 1943 17 March 1944Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 13 November 1943 8 January 1944 2nd patrol 26 February 17 March 1944Victories NoneU 801 was ordered on 7 December 1940 from DeSchiMAG Seebeckwerft in Geestemunde under the yard number 359 Her keel was laid down on 30 September 1941 and after eleven months of construction the U boat was launched the following year on 31 October 1942 About six months later she was commissioned into service under the command of Kapitanleutnant Hans Joachim Brans Crew 35 in the 4th U boat Flotilla Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign EditGerman Type IXC 40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs U 801 had a displacement of 1 144 tonnes 1 126 long tons when at the surface and 1 257 tonnes 1 237 long tons while submerged 1 The U boat had a total length of 76 76 m 251 ft 10 in a pressure hull length of 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in a beam of 6 86 m 22 ft 6 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 67 m 15 ft 4 in The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40 46 supercharged four stroke nine cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4 400 metric horsepower 3 240 kW 4 340 shp for use while surfaced two Siemens Schuckert 2 GU 345 34 double acting electric motors producing a total of 1 000 shaft horsepower 1 010 PS 750 kW for use while submerged She had two shafts and two 1 92 m 6 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 18 3 knots 33 9 km h 21 1 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph 1 When submerged the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles 117 km 72 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 13 850 nautical miles 25 650 km 15 940 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 801 was fitted with six 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and two at the stern 22 torpedoes one 10 5 cm 4 13 in SK C 32 naval gun 180 rounds and a 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 as well as a 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of forty eight 1 Service history EditAfter a collision in the Baltic during work up for deployment U 801 now part of the 2nd U boat Flotilla left Swinemunde together with U 421 and U 734 on 7 November 1943 for Norway Via Kristiansand and Stavanger the U boats reached Bergen two days later Leaving Bergen the next week U 801 joined wolfpack Coronel operating against convoy ONS 24 in the North Atlantic on 2 December 1943 For the rest of the month she patrolled in her assigned operation area and joined two more wolf packs Coronel 2 and Borkum until technical problems forced her to make for port U 801 reached Lorient on 8 January 1944 Her second patrol would have led her into the Indian Ocean as part of Monsun group however U 801 was detected by a submarine hunter group three weeks into her journey The submarine surfaced on the evening of March 16th only to be attacked by aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Block Island The U boat dived and managed to evade the hunters until the early hours of the March 17th when the U 801 skipper erred and sent a radio message USS Corry ran down the bearing of the transmission and she and USS Bronstein methodically boxed in the U 801 forcing her to surface On the surface she was immediately attacked by Corry Nine crew members lost their lives in the attack The crew abandoned and scuttled their boat The remaining crew were picked up by Corry and later transferred to Block Island 2 The 47 survivors were brought to Norfolk Virginia and spent the rest of the war in captivity 3 Wolfpacks Edit U 801 took part in four wolfpacks namely Coronel 4 8 December 1943 Coronel 2 8 14 December 1943 Coronel 3 14 17 December 1943 Borkum 18 December 1943 3 January 1944 References Edit a b c d Groner 1991 p 68 McKernon Francis The Sinking of U 801 USS Corry DD 463 Home Page Kevin McKernon Retrieved 23 October 2017 Busch amp Roll 1999 pp 207 8 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 ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels ISBN 0 85177 593 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type IXC 40 boat U 801 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 December 2014 Portals nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 801 amp oldid 1079925768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
