German submarine U-1003

Last updated

U995 2004 1.jpg
U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1003.
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-1003
Ordered14 October 1941
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number203
Laid down18 January 1943
Launched27 October 1943
Commissioned9 December 1943
FateScuttled on 23 March 1945
General characteristics
Type Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement
  • 757 long tons (769  t) surfaced
  • 857 long tons (871 t) submerged
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 × diesel engines
  • 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
  • 250 m (820 ft)
  • Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement44-52 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 54 077
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Strübing [1]
  • 9 December 1943 – 23 March 1945
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 11 October – 16 December 1944
  • b. 10 – 11 January 1945
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 19 February – 23 March 1945
Victories: None

German submarine U-1003 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

She was ordered on 14 October 1941, and was laid down on 18 January 1943, at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 203. She was launched on 27 October 1943, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Strübing on 9 December 1943. [2]

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1003 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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), an overall 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 BBC 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). [3]

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). 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-1003 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA or TMB Naval mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and fifty-two. [3]

Service history

U-1003 participated in two war patrol which resulted in no ships damaged or sunk. [2]

On 7 February 1944, during U-1003's trials, a crewman fell overboard and died while transferring to an outpost boat, near Hela on the Baltic Sea. [2]

U-1003 had Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus fitted out sometime before October 1944. [2]

U-1003 departed Bergen, Norway on 9 February, on her second, and last, war patrol. On 20 March 1945, thirty days into her patrol, her snorkel was spotted by HMCS New Glasgow off her port bow. New Glasgow had started preparations for a depth charge attack when she herself was damaged just below the bridge upon colliding with U-1003. Fourteen Allied ships, from Escort Groups C-4, C-25, and C-26, began a massive search for the heavily damaged U-boat but U-1003 managed to elude them. She then sat on the bottom for another 48 hours for repairs, however, on 23 March, the severe damage to the boat forced her crew to scuttle her off the coast of Ireland. Of the 48 men onboard U-1003, 33 were picked up by HMCS Thetford Mines, two of which died and were buried at sea. Oblt.z.S. Werner Strübing and the remaining 14 crew members were lost. [2]

The wreck now lies at 55°38′N7°26′W / 55.633°N 7.433°W / 55.633; -7.433 .

See also

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-760 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-551 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 November 1939 at the Blohm & Voss yard in Hamburg as yard number 527, launched on 14 September 1940, and commissioned on 7 November 1940 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Karl Schrott.

German submarine U-481 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 6 February 1943 at the Deutsche Werke yard in Kiel, launched on 25 September 1943, and commissioned on 10 November 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ewald Pick.

German submarine U-70 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-300 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-340 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-756 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Laid down as yard number 139 at the Kriegsmarinewerft (KMW) in Wilhelmshaven, she served with 6th U-boat flotilla from 30 December 1941 until 1 September 1942 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Klaus Harney. U-756 did not survive to complete her first patrol and did not sink or damage any ships.

German submarine U-771 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 21 November 1940, and was laid down on 21 August 1942 at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 154. She was launched on 26 September 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Block on 18 November of that year.

German submarine <i>U-450</i> German world war II submarine

German submarine U-450 was a Type VIIC U-boat in the service of Nazi Germany during World War II.

German submarine U-267 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 9 August 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 32, launched on 23 May 1942 and commissioned on 11 July 1942. She took part in seven patrols between 11 July 1942 and when she was scuttled at the war's end. She neither sank nor damaged any ships. U-267 was scuttled in Geltinger Bucht on 5 May 1945, later raised and broken up.

German submarine U-263 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 8 June 1941 at the Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft (yard) in Bremen as yard number 28. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and commissioned on 6 May under the command of Kapitänleutnant Kurt Nölke.

German submarine <i>U-1278</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1278 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1001</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1001 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1007</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1007 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1008</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1008 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1109</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1109 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-774</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-774 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-921</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-921 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-963</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-963 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-982</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-982 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Werner Strübing". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1003". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.

Bibliography

Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-1003". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.