German submarine U-768

Last updated

History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-768
Ordered15 August 1940
Builder Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number151
Laid down5 April 1941
Launched22 August 1943
Commissioned14 October 1943
FateSunk in a collision with U-745 on 20 November 1943
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
  • 1,070 t (1,053 long tons) total
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) total
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) total
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric
  • 3,200 PS (2,354 kW; 3,156 shp) surfaced
  • 750 PS (552 kW; 740 shp) submerged
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.66 knots (14.19 km/h; 8.81 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,700  nmi (25,400 km; 15,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 125 nmi (232 km; 144 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth220 m (721 ft 9 in)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted44-52 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 53 733
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Johann Buttjer
  • 14 October – 20 November 1943
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-768 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

Under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Johann Buttjer she was commissioned on 14 October 1943, and was sunk in a collision with U-745 on 20 November 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-768 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [1] 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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). [1]

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). [1] 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-768 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [1]

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-765 was a German Type VIIC U-boat created for service in World War II. U-765 was notable for not suffering any casualties until the time of her sinking. The U-boat did not sink or damage any ships.

German submarine U-228 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

German submarine U-434 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German Submarine U-222 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-282 was a type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II. She was built at the Bremer-Vegesacker yard in Bremen. She was laid down on 2 June 1942, launched on 3 February 1943 and commissioned on 13 March 1943 with Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Müller in command.

German submarine U-258 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack on 20 March 1941 as yard number 23. She was launched on 13 December and commissioned on 4 February 1942.

German submarine U-267 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 9 August 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 32, launched on 23 May 1942 and commissioned on 11 July 1942. She took part in seven patrols between 11 July 1942 and when she was scuttled at the war's end. She neither sank nor damaged any ships. U-267 was scuttled in Geltinger Bucht on 5 May 1945, later raised and broken up.

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-323 was a Type VIIC/41 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 U-446 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-675 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 9 April 1942 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Hamburg, launched on 8 May 1943, and commissioned on 14 July 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Sammler.

German submarine U-683 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 23 December 1942 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Hamburg, launched on 7 March 1944, and commissioned on 30 May 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günter Keller.

German submarine U-717 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 24 April 1942 at the H. C. Stülcken Sohn yard at Hamburg, launched on 20 February 1943, and commissioned on 19 May 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried von Rothkirch und Panthen. Attached to 5th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-717 completed her training period on 31 July 1944 and was assigned to front-line service.

German submarine U-721 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 16 November 1942 at the H. C. Stülcken Sohn yard at Hamburg, launched on 23 July 1943, and commissioned on 8 November 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Otto Wollschläger.

German submarine U-733 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 13 October 1941 at the Schichau-Werke yard at Danzig, launched on 5 September 1942, and commissioned on 14 November 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm von Trotha.

German submarine U-748 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 20 August 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 31 July 1943 with Capitano di Corvetta Mario Arillo in command.

German submarine <i>U-1016</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1016 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-924</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-924 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-928</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-928 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

54°30′N19°15′E / 54.500°N 19.250°E / 54.500; 19.250