German submarine U-207

Last updated
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-207
Ordered16 October 1939
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number636
Laid down14 August 1940
Launched24 April 1941
Commissioned7 June 1941
FateSunk by British warships, 11 September 1941
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) 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
  • 2,800–3,200 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
Part of:
Identification codes: M 43 387
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Fritz Meyer
  • 7 June – 11 September 1941
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 24 August – 11 September 1941
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(9,727  GRT)

German submarine U-207 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

Ordered on 16 October 1939 from the Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, she was laid down on 14 August 1940 as yard number 636, launched on 24 April 1941 and commissioned on 7 June under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Fritz Meyer.

She sank two ships totalling 9,727  gross register tons  (GRT) in one patrol.

She was sunk by two British warships near Greenland on 11 September 1941.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-207 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-207 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [1]

Service history

U-207's only patrol began with her departure from Trondheim in Norway on 24 August 1941. She headed west, approaching southern Greenland and attacking the north Atlantic convoy SC 42, sinking Stonepool using torpedoes and five minutes later Berury with gunfire. The convoy escorts reacted swiftly: HMS Leamington and Veteran used depth charges to sink the unfortunate U-boat.

All 41 crewmen died.

Wolfpacks

U-207 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage (GRT)Fate [2]
11 September 1941 Stonepool Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,803Sunk
11 September 1941 Berury Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,924Sunk

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-228 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

German Submarine U-222 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-433 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 4 January 1940 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1474, launched on 15 March 1941 and commissioned on 24 May 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans Ey.

German submarine U-453 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 4 July 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 284, launched on 30 April 1941 and commissioned on 26 June 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Egon-Reiner von Schlippenbach.

German submarine U-224 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-356 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down in May 1940 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg, launched on 16 September 1941, and commissioned on 20 December 1941.

German submarine U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She saw service in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Built in 1941 and 1942 at Nordsee-Werke, Emden, U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.

German submarine U-225 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine 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-304 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She saw service in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Built in 1941 and 1942 at Flender-Werke, Lübeck, U-304 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.

German submarine U-208 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 5 August 1940 by the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 637, launched on 21 May 1941 and commissioned on 5 July under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Alfred Schlieper.

German submarine U-620 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 June 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 596, launched on 9 March 1942 and commissioned on 30 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Stein.

German submarine <i>U-999</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-999 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-922</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-922 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-926</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-926 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1052</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1052 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1056</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1056 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1196</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1196 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1201</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1201 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1204</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1204 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-207". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.

Bibliography