German submarine U-273

Last updated

History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-273
Ordered20 January 1941
Builder Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number38
Laid down5 December 1941
Launched2 September 1942
Commissioned21 October 1942
FateSunk, 19 May 1943 by a British aircraft [1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type 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 49 267
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Adolf Engel
  • 21 October 1942 – 31 March 1943
  • Oblt.z.S.. Hermann Rossmann
  • 1 April – 19 May 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 12 – 19 May 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-273 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

The submarine was laid down on 5 December 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 38, she was launched on 2 September 1942 and commissioned on 21 October under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Adolf Engel. [2]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-273 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-273 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

U-273 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from October 1942 to April 1943, and served operationally with the 9th U-boat Flotilla from 1 May 1943. [2]

U-273 sailed from Kiel under the command of Oblt.z.S. Hermann Rossmann, on 8 May 1943, arriving at Bergen, Norway, on 11 May. The next day she sailed out into the Atlantic on her first and only patrol and was sunk eight days later [3] on 19 May with all hands, in position 59°25′N24°33′W / 59.417°N 24.550°W / 59.417; -24.550 southwest of Iceland, by depth charges dropped from a Lockheed Hudson of No. 269 Squadron RAF. [2] [1]

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-1302 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service in World War II. She was commissioned on 25 May 1944.

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-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-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 <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-1103</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1103 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-903</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-903 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-904</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-904 was a Type VIIC 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-975</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-975 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-1162</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1162 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1192</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1192 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1194</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1194 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 Kemp 1999, pp. 118–9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-273". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-273". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography