German submarine U-733
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-733 |
Ordered: | 21 November 1940 |
Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
Laid down: | 15 October 1941 |
Launched: | 5 September 1942 |
Commissioned: | 14 November 1942 |
Recommissioned: | 15 December 1943 |
Decommissioned: | 15 May 1943 |
Fate: | Sank in collision on 8 April 1943, raised scuttled 5 May 1945 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement: |
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Length: |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power: |
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Propulsion: |
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Speed: |
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Range: |
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Test depth: |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
Identification codes: | M 50 883 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: | no war patrols |
Victories: | no ships sunk |
German submarine U-733 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 15 October 1941 at the Schichau-Werke yard at Danzig, launched on 5 September 1942, and commissioned on 14 November 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm von Trotha.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-733 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 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).[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-733 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
Service history
On 8 April 1943, U-733 collided with Vorpostenboot V 313 outside Gotenhafen port and sank without fatalities. The next week, U-733 was raised and repaired in the Schichau yard. On 15 December 1943, U-733 was re-commissioned under the command of Oblt.z.S. Hans Hellmann. In May 1945, U-733 transferred to Flensburg, were the U-boat was attacked by US aircraft and scuttled after receiving heavy damage.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Busch, Röll 1999, pp. 85, 358, 365.
Bibliography
- 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. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- 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). IV. Danzig, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-733". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2015.