German submarine U-4706

	Postwar photo of Hecht (S 171), (former Type XXIII submarine U-2367). An identical sister ship of U-4706.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-4706
Ordered	7 July 1944
Builder	Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel
Yard number	948
Laid down	14 November 1944
Launched	19 January 1945
Commissioned	7 February 1945
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945
Norway
Name	HNoMS Knerter
Acquired	9 May 1945
Commissioned	October 1948
Stricken	1954
Fate	Broken up
General characteristics
Class and type	Type XXIII submarine
Displacement	234 t (230 long tons) (surfaced); 258 t (254 long tons) (submerged);
Length	34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a); 26.00 m (85 ft 4 in) (p/h);
Beam	3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a); 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in) (p/h);
Draught	3.66 m (12 ft)
Installed power	575–630 PS (423–463 kW; 567–621 shp) (diesel drive); 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp) (standard electric drive); 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp) (silent electric drive);
Propulsion	1 × MWM RS134S 6-cylinder diesel engine ; 1 × AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor ; 1 × BBC CCR188 electric creeping motor;
Speed	9.7 knots (18 km/h; 11 mph) (surfaced); 12.5 knots (23 km/h; 14 mph) (submerged);
Range	2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced; 194 nmi (359 km; 223 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	180 m (590 ft)
Complement	14–18
Armament	2 × 53.3 cm (21 in) bow torpedo tubes ; 2 × torpedoes ;
Service record (Kriegsmarine)
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla ; 7 February – 8 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 50 650
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Manfred Schneider; 7 February – 9 May 1945;
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

Last updated August 27, 2024

German submarine U-4706 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 14 November 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 948. She was launched on 19 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Manfred Schneider on 7 February 1945.^[2]

Design

Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-4706 had a displacement of 234 tonnes (230 long tons) when at the surface and 258 tonnes (254 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a), a beam width of 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a), and a draught depth of 3.66 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by one MWM six-cylinder RS134S diesel engine providing 575–630 metric horsepower (423–463 kilowatts ; 567–621 shaft horsepower ), one AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor electric motor providing 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp), and one BBC silent running CCR188 electric motor providing 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) and a submerged speed of 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) for 194 nautical miles (359 km; 223 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-4706 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow. She could carry two preloaded torpedoes. The complement was 14–18 men.^[3] This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.^[2]

Service history

On 9 May 1945, U-4706 surrendered at Kristiansand, Norway.^[2]

Post war service

In October 1948, U-4706 was transferred to Norway, and the Royal Norwegian Navy quickly gave her the impromptu name HNoMS Knerten ("the runt") in reference to her diminutive size relative to the three Type VIIC/41 boats that were acquired at the same time. Knerten was briefly homeported in Trondheim in 1949, slated to be used as a development testbed for air-independent propulsion technology, but a lack of spare parts and a battery explosion accident prevented her from ever being entered into service.^[4]^[5] From 14 April 1950, the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club used her for storage until she was struck in 1954 and broken up.^[2]

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-2325 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 29 April 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 479. She was launched on 13 July 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolf-Harald Schüer on 3 August 1944.

German submarine U-2327 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 16 May 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 481. She was launched on 29 July 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Mürl on 19 August 1944.

German submarine U-2334 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 14 July 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 488. She was launched on 26 August 1944 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Walter Angermann on 21 September 1944.

German submarine U-2337 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 2 August 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 491. She was launched on 15 September 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günter Behnisch on 4 October 1944.

German submarine U-2350 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 28 September 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 504. She was launched on 22 November 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Schauer on 23 December 1944.

German submarine U-2363 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 22 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 517. She was launched on 18 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl Frahm on 5 February 1945.

German submarine U-2330 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 12 June 1944 at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, as yard number 484. She was launched on 19 August 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Beckmann on 7 September 1944.

German submarine U-2332 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 20 September 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 941. She was launched on 18 October 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Dieter Bornkessel on 13 November 1944.

German submarine U-2339 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 15 August 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 493. She was launched on 22 September 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Germanus Woermann on 16 November 1944.

German submarine U-2343 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 31 August 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 497. She was launched on 18 October 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Harald Fuhlendorf on 6 November 1944.

German submarine U-2347 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1943, and was laid down on 19 September 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 501. She was launched on 6 November 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Willibald Ulbing on 2 December 1944.

German submarine U-2357 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 21 October 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 511. She was launched on 20 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erwin Heinrich on 13 January 1945.

German submarine U-2364 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 27 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 518. She was launched on 23 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Dieter Hengen on 14 February 1945.

German submarine U-2369 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 20 December 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 523. She was launched on 24 March 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Schulz on 18 April 1945.

German submarine U-2361 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 12 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 515. She was launched on 3 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz von Henning on 3 February 1945.

German submarine U-2353 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 10 October 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 507. She was launched on 6 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Hillmann on 9 January 1945.

German submarine U-2359 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 20 September 1944, and was laid down on 3 November 1944 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 513. She was launched on 23 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gustav Bischoff on 16 January 1945.

German submarine U-2371 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 19 January 1945 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg, as yard number 525. She was launched on 18 April 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Johannes Kühne on 24 April 1945.

German submarine U-4701 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 19 October 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 943. She was launched on 14 December 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Arnold Wiechmann on 10 January 1945.

German submarine U-4711 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 1 December 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 953. She was launched on 21 February 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried Endler on 21 March 1945.

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Manfred Schneider". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-4706". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
1 2 Gröner 1991, p. 89.
↑ "Kobbenklasse undervannsbåt 1964 - 2002" (PDF). Royal Norwegian Navy Museum . Retrieved 20 February 2022.
↑ "DORAS grå ulver - tyske ubåter i Trondheim under og etter andre verdenskrig" (PDF). no:Strinda historielag . Retrieved 20 February 2022.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Williamson, Gordon (2005). Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-boat in World War II . Osprey. ISBN 1841768723.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-4706". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Manfred Schneider". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

[uboat-2] 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-4706". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199189-3] 1 2 Gröner 1991, p. 89.

[museum-4] "Kobbenklasse undervannsbåt 1964 - 2002" (PDF). Royal Norwegian Navy Museum . Retrieved 20 February 2022.

[strinda-5] "DORAS grå ulver - tyske ubåter i Trondheim under og etter andre verdenskrig" (PDF). no:Strinda historielag . Retrieved 20 February 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]