Wikipedia

German submarine U-341

German submarine U-341 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-341
Ordered20 January 1941
BuilderNordseewerke, Emden
Yard number213
Laid down28 October 1941
Launched10 October 1942
Commissioned28 November 1942
FateSunk by a Canadian aircraft on 19 September 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 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) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 708
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Dietrich Epp
  • 28 November 1942 – 19 September 1943
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 May – 10 July 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 31 August – 19 September 1943
Victories: None

She did not sink or damage any ships.

Design

edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-341 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] 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-341 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.[4]

Service history

edit

The submarine was laid down on 28 October 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 213, launched on 10 October 1942 and commissioned on 28 November 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Dietrich Epp.

U-341 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, for training and then with the 3rd flotilla for operations from 1 June.

First patrol

edit

U-341 sailed from Kiel on 25 May 1943, and out into the Atlantic Ocean via the Iceland / Faroe Islands gap. Having moved all over the central north Atlantic without encountering any shipping, she arrived at La Pallice in occupied France, on 10 July.[5]

Second patrol and loss

edit

For her second foray, U-341 departed La Pallice on 31 August 1943 and headed north.

On 19 September, she was sunk by depth charges dropped by a Canadian B-24 Liberator of No. 10 Squadron RCAF southwest of Iceland.[6][1][7] All 50 of the crew died.

Wolfpacks

edit

U-341 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Kemp 1999, p. 146.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-341 from 25 May to 10 July 1943". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  7. ^ Hofmann, Markus. "U 241". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

edit
  • 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). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. p. 214. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
  • 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. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
edit
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-341". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 341". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

58°34′N 25°30′W / 58.567°N 25.500°W / 58.567; -25.500

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_submarine_U-341&oldid=1229561192"