German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-978 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-978 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
U-978 was commissioned on 12 May 1943 and assigned to 5th U-boat Flotilla for crew training. On 1 August 1944, U-978 was assigned to 3rd U-boat Flotilla for operational service, and completed one patrol with that unit. On 4 September 1944 she was ordered to 11th U-boat Flotilla, beginning service on 5 September. During her second war patrol, U-978 completed the longest underwater Schnorchel patrol of World War II, lasting 68 days, under command of Guenther Pulst.[3] The record-breaking patrol began on 9 October 1944 when she left Bergen, Norway and ended on 16 December when she returned to Bergen from her patrol. This was two days longer than the famed underwater journey of U-977 to Argentina, shortly after Germany's surrender. During her two patrols U-978, did not sink any ships, but damaged one ship beyond repair, which displaced 7,176 GRT.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-978". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 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). 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. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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.
Bishop, C. Kriegsmarine U-Boats 1939 –45. Amber Books, 2006.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-978". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
german, submarine, world, type, viic, boat, operated, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, completed, longest, underwater, patrol, world, historynazi, germanynameu, 978ordered5, june, 1941builderblohm, voss, hamburgyard, number178laid, down24, july, 1942launched1, apr. German submarine U 978 was a World War II Type VIIC U boat operated by Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine She completed the longest underwater patrol of World War II HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 978Ordered5 June 1941BuilderBlohm amp Voss HamburgYard number178Laid down24 July 1942Launched1 April 1943Commissioned12 May 1943FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945 sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 11 December 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 recordPart of 5th U boat Flotilla 12 May 1943 31 July 1944 3rd U boat Flotilla 1 August 4 September 1944 11th U boat Flotilla 5 September 1944 8 May 1945Commanders Oblt z S Kptlt Gunther Pulst 1 12 May 1943 9 May 1945Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 9 October 16 December 1944 2nd patrol 25 February 20 April 1945Victories 1 merchant ship total loss 7 176 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 3 Fate 4 Summary of raiding history 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 978 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 978 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 editU 978 was commissioned on 12 May 1943 and assigned to 5th U boat Flotilla for crew training On 1 August 1944 U 978 was assigned to 3rd U boat Flotilla for operational service and completed one patrol with that unit On 4 September 1944 she was ordered to 11th U boat Flotilla beginning service on 5 September During her second war patrol U 978 completed the longest underwater Schnorchel patrol of World War II lasting 68 days under command of Guenther Pulst 3 The record breaking patrol began on 9 October 1944 when she left Bergen Norway and ended on 16 December when she returned to Bergen from her patrol This was two days longer than the famed underwater journey of U 977 to Argentina shortly after Germany s surrender During her two patrols U 978 did not sink any ships but damaged one ship beyond repair which displaced 7 176 GRT Fate editU 978 survived the war as did her whole crew and was surrendered at Trondheim on 9 May 1945 She was sunk on 11 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight by torpedoes at location 55 50 N 10 05 W 55 833 N 10 083 W 55 833 10 083 Summary of raiding history editDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 4 23 November 1944 William D Burnham nbsp United States 7 176 Total lossReferences edit Helgason Gudmundur Gunther Pulst Knight s Cross German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 21 November 2019 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Bishop p 116 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 978 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 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 in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler 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 German Warships 1815 1945 Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Bishop C Kriegsmarine U Boats 1939 45 Amber Books 2006 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 978 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Portals nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 978 amp oldid 1172011912, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
