German submarine U-270
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name: | U-270 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen |
| Yard number: | 35 |
| Laid down: | 15 October 1941 |
| Launched: | 11 July 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 5 September 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk, in August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay, by an Australian aircraft[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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| Service record[2][3] | |
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| Victories: | One warship declared a total loss, 1,370 GRT |
German submarine U-270 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 Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft (yard) in Bremen as yard number 35. She was launched on 11 July 1942 and commissioned on 5 September under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Paul-Fredrich Otto.[2]
In six patrols, she caused one British warship of 1,370 gross register tons (GRT) to be declared a total loss. She was a member of seven wolfpacks.
She was sunk in August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay by an Australian aircraft.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-270 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-270 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.[4]
Service history
After training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, the boat became operational on 1 April 1943 when she was transferred to the 6th flotilla.
1st and 2nd patrols
U-270's first patrol began when she departed Kiel on 23 March 1943. She entered the Atlantic Ocean after negotiating the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Two crew members were injured in bad weather on 4 April. She then docked at the French Atlantic port of St. Nazaire on 15 May.
For her second sortie, the boat moved through the Atlantic waters off northwest Spain.
3rd and 4th patrols
She attacked the British frigate HMS Lagan which caused the warship to be declared a total loss. During an attack on a convoy in mid-Atlantic, the boat's pressure hull was cracked by depth charges dropped by the escorts; the submarine was forced to return to base.
U-270 was attacked by a British B-17 Flying Fortress on 6 January 1944 and succeeded in shooting the aircraft down, but not before sufficient damage was caused to force the U-boat to curtail the patrol.
5th patrol
The submarine was returning to base after being attacked and badly damaged by a Vickers Wellington of No. 172 Squadron RAF, when she was attacked by a second Fortress, this time from 53 Squadron. This B-17 was also shot down, but did not cause any further damage to the boat.
6th patrol and loss
U-270 departed Lorient for the last time on 10 August 1944. In the Bay of Biscay, she was attacked and sunk by an Australian Sunderland flying boat of No. 461 Squadron RAAF on the 13th.
There were no deaths; seventy-one men survived.
Wolfpacks
U-270 took part in seven wolfpacks, namely.
- Löwenherz (4–10 April 1943)
- Lerche (10–16 April 1943)
- Specht (21 April - 4 May 1943)
- Fink (4–5 May 1943)
- Leuthen (15–23 September 1943)
- Borkum (18 December 1943 - 3 January 1944)
- Borkum 1 (3–6 January 1944)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 September 1943 | HMS Lagan |  Royal Navy |
1,370 | Total loss |
References
Notes
- ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
Bibliography
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External links
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- Use dmy dates from August 2012
- World War II submarines of Germany
- German Type VIIC submarines
- U-boats commissioned in 1942
- 1942 ships
- Ships built in Bremen (state)
- U-boats sunk by Australian aircraft
- Ships sunk with no fatalities
- U-boats sunk in 1944
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- Maritime incidents in August 1944
