German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-968 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).[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-968 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service historyedit
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 18 March 1943, followed by active service on 1 March 1944 as part of the 13th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In seven patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 14,386 gross register tons (GRT), damaged one other.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-968". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
Bibliographyedit
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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (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 linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-968". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
April 11, 2024
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, 1942, blohm, voss, hamburg, yard, number, launched, february, 1943, commissioned, march, 1943, under, oberleutnant, otto, westphalen, historynazi, germ. German submarine U 968 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 14 May 1942 by Blohm amp Voss Hamburg as yard number 168 launched on 4 February 1943 and commissioned on 18 March 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Otto Westphalen HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 968Ordered5 June 1941BuilderBlohm amp Voss HamburgYard number168Laid down14 May 1942Launched4 February 1943Commissioned18 March 1943FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945 sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 29 November 1945General 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 or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunService record 1 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 18 March 1943 29 February 1944 13th U boat Flotilla 1 March 1944 8 May 1945Identification codes M 51 536Commanders Oblt z S Otto Westphalen 18 March 1943 9 May 1945Operations 7 patrols 1st patrol a 7 March 2 April 1944 b 4 6 April 1944 c 11 14 July 1944 d 17 21 July 1944 e 20 22 August 1944 2nd patrol 29 August 10 September 1944 3rd patrol 24 September 3 October 1944 4th patrol a 14 October 11 November 1944 b 13 16 November 1944 c 23 25 January 1945 d 1 February 1945 5th patrol 7 20 February 1945 6th patrol 12 30 March 1945 7th patrol a 21 April 6 May 1945 b 7 May 1945 c 15 19 May 1945Victories 2 merchant ships sunk 14 386 GRT 1 warship sunk 1 350 tons 1 merchant ship total loss 7 200 GRT 1 warship total loss 1 350 tons 1 merchant ship damaged 8 129 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 2 2 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Citations 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 968 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 Brown Boveri amp Cie GG UB 720 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 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 968 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 one twin 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 career began with training at 5th U boat Flotilla on 18 March 1943 followed by active service on 1 March 1944 as part of the 13th Flotilla for the remainder of her service In seven patrols she sank two merchant ships for a total of 14 386 gross register tons GRT damaged one other Wolfpacks edit U 968 took part in seven wolfpacks namely Hammer 17 March 1 April 1944 Dachs 1 5 September 1944 Zorn 26 September 1 October 1944 Grimm 1 2 October 1944 Panther 16 October 10 November 1944 Rasmus 7 13 February 1945 Hagen 13 21 March 1945 Fate edit U 968 surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Narvik Norway She was subsequently transferred to Loch Eriboll in Scotland on 19 May 1945 and later to Loch Ryan as part of Operation Deadlight She was eventually sunk by Allied forces on 29 November 1945 in the North Atlantic in position 55 24 N 06 22 W 55 400 N 6 367 W 55 400 6 367 Summary of raiding history editDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 3 14 February 1945 Norfjell nbsp Norway 8 129 Damaged14 February 1945 Horace Gray nbsp United States 7 200 Total loss17 February 1945 HMS Lark nbsp Royal Navy 1 350 Total loss17 February 1945 Thomas Scott nbsp United States 7 176 Sunk20 March 1945 Thomas Donaldson nbsp United States 7 210 Sunk20 March 1945 HMS Lapwing nbsp Royal Navy 1 350 SunkReferences editNotes edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 968 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 9 August 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 968 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 9 August 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 Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 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 968 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 968 amp oldid 1214247141, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
