German submarine U-473

Last updated

History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-473
Ordered20 January 1941
Builder Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number304
Laid down1 December 1941
Launched17 April 1943
Commissioned16 June 1943
FateSunk by British warships west southwest of Ireland on 6 May 1944 [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]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 52 367
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Heinz Sternberg
  • 16 June 1943 – 6 May 1944
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 27 March – 18 April 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 24 April – 6 May 1944
Victories: 1 warship total loss
(1,400 tons)

German submarine U-473 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

She carried out two patrols. She caused a warship to be declared a total loss.

She was sunk by British warships west southwest of Ireland on 6 May 1944. [1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-473 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [3] 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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). [3]

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). [3] 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-473 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [3]

Service history

The submarine was laid down on 1 December 1941 at the Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 304, launched on 17 April 1943 and commissioned on 16 June under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinz Sternberg.

She served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla from 16 June 1943 for training and the 9th U-boat Flotilla from 1 January 1944 for operations.

1st patrol

U-473's first patrol was preceded by a short journey from Kiel in Germany to Bergen in Norway. The patrol itself began when the boat departed Bergen on 27 March 1944. She passed through the gap separating Iceland and the Faroe Islands and out into the Atlantic Ocean. She docked at Lorient in occupied France on 18 April.

2nd patrol and loss

The U-boat departed Lorient on 24 April 1944 for her second foray. On the 28th, she was attacked by a Handley Page Halifax of No. 58 Squadron RAF. No damage was inflicted on U-473 but the aircraft was hit five times before only just returning to base.

She was attacked again by a Polish-manned Vickers Wellington of 304 Squadron a day later. The boat was not damaged in this inconclusive encounter, but kept the aircraft at a respectful distance for an hour.

U-473 torpedoed the American destroyer USS Donnell on 3 May 1944. The warship did not sink; the U-boat dived deep to evade other convoy escorts and sustained slight damage from their depth charges.

On 6 May U-473 was detected by units of Britain's 2nd Support Group, and subjected to a prolonged "hunt to exhaustion". The three sloops, HMS Starling, Wren and Wild Goose, expended some 345 depth charges over a period of 15 hours, finally forcing U-473 to surface. The U-boat attempted to flee on the surface, but was brought under heavy gunfire from the three warships. Her captain and members of her crew were killed, and the survivors abandoned ship. [1] The deserted U-boat, still running at high speed, headed straight for Starling which was obliged to take evasive action. Continuous gunfire from the three ships caused the U-boat to sink stern-first, at position 49°29′N21°22′W / 49.483°N 21.367°W / 49.483; -21.367 . [2] Two explosions, possibly scuttling charges, finished the submarine off. [1]

Twenty-three men went down with U-473; there were thirty survivors. [1] [2]

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [4]
3 May 1944 USS Donnell Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy 1,400Total loss

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 <i>U-450</i> German world war II submarine

German submarine U-450 was a Type VIIC U-boat in the service of Nazi Germany during World War II.

German submarine U-741 was a Type VIIC U-boat built by F Schichau GmbH of Danzig and commissioned on 10 April 1943.

German submarine <i>U-744</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-744 was a type VIIC U-boat, launched on 11 March 1943, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Blischke.

German submarine U-565 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 30 March 1940 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 541, launched on 20 February 1941 and commissioned on 10 April 1941 under Oberleutnant Johann Jebsen.

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-170 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 21 May 1941 by the Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG in Bremen as yard number 709. She was launched on 6 June 1942 and commissioned on 19 January 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Günther Pfeffer in command.

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-344 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-370 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-390 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-483 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-667 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 16 August 1941 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg as yard number 816, launched on 29 August 1942 and commissioned on 21 October 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schroeteler.

German submarine U-775 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 22 January 1943 by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven as yard number 158, launched on 11 February 1944 and commissioned on 23 March 1944 under Oberleutnant zur See Erich Taschenmacher.

German submarine U-989 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 189, launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 22 July 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hardo Rodler von Roithberg.

German submarine <i>U-1004</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1004 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 January 1943 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 204, launched on 27 October 1943 and commissioned on 16 December 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hartmuth Schimmelpfennig.

German submarine <i>U-1064</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1064 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 23 September 1943 by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel as yard number 701, launched on 22 June 1944 and commissioned on 29 July 1944 under Korvettenkapitän Karl-Hermann Schneidewind.

German submarine U-767 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 5 April 1941 by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven as yard number 150, launched on 10 July 1943 and commissioned on 11 September 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Walter Dankleff.

German submarine U-990 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 190, launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 28 July 1943 under Kapitänleutnant Hubert Nordheimer.

German submarine <i>U-1007</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1007 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

References

Notes

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

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kemp 1999, p. 187-8.
  2. 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-473". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-473". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 22 August 2014.

Bibliography