German submarine U-560

Last updated

History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-560
Ordered16 October 1939
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number536
Laid down1 February 1940
Launched10 January 1941
Commissioned6 March 1941
FateScuttled on 3 May 1945
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 [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 35 195
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche
  • 6 March – 24 August 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Ernst Cordes
  • 25 August 1941 – 15 July 1942
  • Kptlt. Konstatin von Rappard
  • 16 July 1942 – 31 August 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Wicke
  • 1 September – 12 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Paul Jacobs
  • 13 December 1943 – 3 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-560 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She carried out no patrols, sank no ships, and was scuttled on 3 May 1945 in Kiel. The wreck was broken up in 1946. The submarine was laid down on 1 February 1940 at Blohm & Voss , Hamburg as yard number 536, launched on 10 January 1941 and commissioned on 6 March under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche. She served with the 24th U-boat Flotilla from 6 March 1941 for training and was reassigned to the 22nd flotilla on 1 December 1943, then the 31st flotilla on 1 March 1945.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-560 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [2] 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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). [2]

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). [2] 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-560 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. [2]

Service record

U-560 was scuttled on 3 May 1945, at Kiel, before participating in any war patrols. The wreck was later raised and broken up in 1946.

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-554 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 December 1939 at the Blohm & Voss yard in Hamburg as yard number 530, launched on 7 November 1940, and commissioned on 15 January 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Dietrich Lohmann.

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-604 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 27 February 1941 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 580, launched on 16 November 1941 and commissioned on 8 January 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Horst Höltring.

German submarine U-236 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-245</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-245 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 18 November 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 679, launched on 25 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December under the command of Korvettenkapitän Friederich Schumann-Hindenberg.

German submarine U-276 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

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

German submarine U-287 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 8 August 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 52. She was launched on 13 August 1943 and commissioned on 22 September under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Meyer. She did not sink or damage any ships.

German submarine U-290 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-316 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 11 August 1942 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 316, launched on 19 June 1943 and commissioned on 5 August under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Stuckmann.

German submarine U-320 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-323 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-339 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 7 July 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 211, launched on 30 June 1942 and commissioned on 25 August under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Basse.

German submarine U-351 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-393 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-397 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-428</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-428 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-763 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 21 January 1941 by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven as yard number 146, launched on 16 January 1943 and commissioned on 13 March 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Ernst Cordes. On 1 November 1944, Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Schröter took over command as part of her transfer to 24th Flotilla..

German submarine U-979 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 10 August 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 179, launched on 15 April 1943 and commissioned on 20 May 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Johannes Meermeier.

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-560". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography