German submarine U-443

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-443
Ordered13 April 1940
Builder Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1498
Laid down10 February 1941
Launched31 January 1942
Commissioned18 April 1942
FateSunk on 23 February 1943 in the Mediterranean near Algiers by three escort destroyers [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 44 676
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Konstantin von Puttkamer
  • 18 April 1942 – 23 February 1943
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 1 October – 4 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 November – 22 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 16 – 23 February 1943
Victories:
  • 3 merchant ships sunk
    (19,435  GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,087 tons)

German submarine U-443 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

Contents

She was laid down at Schichau-Werke, Danzig, on 10 February 1941, launched on 31 January 1942 and commissioned on 18 April with Oberleutnant zur See Konstantin von Puttkamer in command. She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training, then with the 9th flotilla from 1 October 1942 until 31 December 1942, and the 29th flotilla from 1 January 1943 until 23 February for operations.

U-443 completed three patrols, sinking three merchant ships totalling 19,435  gross register tons  (GRT) and one warship of 1,087 GRT.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-443 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-443 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. [4]

Service history

First patrol

U-443 began her operational service when she departed Kiel on 1 October 1942 and sailed out into the Atlantic, clearing the northern coast of Scotland. On 9 October in rough weather, a lookout broke his arm. The U-boat sank two ships from Convoy ON 139 in mid-Atlantic on 22 October, but was then forced to submerge where she was held by the escort ships until the convoy had escaped. She subsequently steamed into Brest in occupied France, arriving on 4 November.

Second patrol

Her second sortie saw her leave Brest on 29 November 1942, penetrate the heavily defended Strait of Gibraltar, sink two more ships in the western Mediterranean and arrive at the Italian port of La Spezia on 22 December.

Third patrol and loss

The U-boat left La Spezia on 16 February 1943 and headed southwest. She was sunk with all hands on 23 February northwest of Algiers by depth charges from the escort destroyers HMS Bicester, Lamerton and Wheatland. [1]

Wolfpacks

U-443 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [5]
22 October 1942 Donax Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,036Sunk
22 October 1942 Winnipeg II Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,807Sunk
11 December 1942 HMS Blean Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,087Sunk
14 December 1942 Edencrag Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,592Sunk

See also

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 Kemp 1999, p. 105.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-443". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-443". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-443". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

36°55′N2°25′E / 36.917°N 2.417°E / 36.917; 2.417

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