German submarine U-283

Last updated

History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-283
Ordered5 June 1941
Builder Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number48
Laid down10 June 1942
Launched17 February 1943
Commissioned31 March 1943
FateSunk by a Canadian aircraft,11 February 1944, southwest of the Faroe Islands [1]
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 [2] [3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 50 857
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinz-Günther Scholz
  • 31 March – 15 August 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Günter Ney
  • 16 August 1943 – 11 February 1944
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 13 January – 11 February 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-283 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

The submarine was laid down on 10 June 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 48. She was launched on 17 February 1943 and commissioned on 31 March under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz-Günther Scholz. [2]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-283 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-283 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-283 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from March 1943 to January 1944 and operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 February. [2] She carried out one patrol, sinking no ships. She was a member of two wolfpacks.

Patrol

The boat's only patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 13 January 1944.

Fate

She was sunk 11 February 1944 southwest of the Faroe Islands by a Canadian Leigh Light equipped Wellington of No. 407 Squadron RCAF. [1]

Forty-nine men died; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-283 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-398 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. The U-boat was laid down at the Howaldtswerke in Kiel on 26 August 1942, launched on 6 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December of that same year, under Korvettenkapitän Johan Reckhoff. He was replaced by Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm Kranz on 8 November 1944.

German submarine <i>U-1163</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1163 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

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

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-231 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-271 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 October 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 36, launched on 29 July 1942 and commissioned on 23 September under the command of Kapitänleutnant Curt Barleben. After training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, U-271 was transferred to the 1st U-boat Flotilla, for front-line service from 1 June 1943.

German submarine U-284 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-311 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 March 1942 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 311, launched on 20 January 1943 and commissioned on 23 March under the command of Kapitänleutnant Joachim Zander.

German submarine U-318 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-336</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-336 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 28 March 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 208, launched on 4 December and commissioned on 14 February 1942 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Hunger.

German submarine U-347 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-360 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-363 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 23 December 1941 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg as yard number 482, launched on 17 December 1942 and commissioned on 18 March 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolf-Werner Wilzer.

German submarine U-968 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 14 May 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 168, launched on 4 February 1943 and commissioned on 18 March 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Otto Westphalen.

German submarine <i>U-1279</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1279 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1014</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1014 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1106</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1106 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-761</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-761 was a Type VIIC 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-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.

References

  1. 1 2 Kemp 1999, p. 169.
  2. 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-283". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-283". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

60°45′N12°50′W / 60.750°N 12.833°W / 60.750; -12.833