German submarine U-1018

Last updated

History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-1018
Ordered23 March 1942
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number218
Laid down16 April 1943
Launched1 March 1944
Commissioned24 April 1944
FateSunk on 27 February 1945
General characteristics
Class & type Type VIIC/41 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)
  • Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement44-52 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 22 623
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ulrich Faber
  • 24 April – 1 June 1944
  • Kptlt. Walter Burmeister
  • 2 June 1944 – 27 February 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 21 January – 27 February 1945
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(1,317  GRT)

German submarine U-1018 was a German Type VIIC/41 U-boat, built during World War II for service in the Battle of the Atlantic. The U-boat was fitted with the Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus which enabled her to stay under-water for extended periods thus avoiding detection by enemy warships. [1]

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1018 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 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 & 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-1018 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), 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 sixty. [2]

Service history

She was completed in Hamburg in April 1944, and spent the rest of 1944 training with the 31st U-boat Flotilla. An accident took place during U-1018's work-up period in the Baltic on 17 June which killed one crew member (Obersteuermann Walter Nellsen) and wounded two. [3] In December 1944, she was moved from Kiel to Horten Naval Base in Norway to join 11th U-boat Flotilla, before departing on 21 January 1945 to patrol the Western Approaches of the English Channel under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walter Burmeister. [4]

Combat role

On 27 February 1945 she attacked convoy BTC 81 about seven miles from Lizard Point, Cornwall (at 49°55′N05°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367 ). [5] U-1018 launched a torpedo which hit the Norwegian freighter Corvus which sank within a few minutes, [6] resulting in the death of five of the freighter's Norwegian crew, a 16-year-old British cabin boy, Thomas Boniface, and two British Royal Navy gunners, (part of the DEMS gun crew) including former professional footballer Charlie Sillett. [7]

The convoy escort ships immediately launched heavy counter-attacks. Less than two hours later, U-1018 was sunk by depth charges dropped by HMS Loch Fada under the command of Cdr. Benjamin Andrew Rogers, RD, RNR. Only two members of the crew of 53 survived. [3]

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage (GRT)Fate [8]
27 February 1945 Corvus Flag of Norway.svg Norway 1,317Sunk

See also

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Schnorchel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-1018". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-1018". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  5. "Today in History: February 27". seawaves.com. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  6. "DS Corvus – Final Fate". warsailors.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  7. "DS Corvus – crew list". warsailors.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1018". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 February 2014.

Bibliography

49°55′N5°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367