German submarine U-7 was a Type IIBU-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, based out of Kiel during World War II. It was one of the smaller versions, and was first launched on 29 June 1935 with a crew of 29. Its first commander was Kurt Freiwald. U-7 would have 16 commanders over the course of its service, the last being Günther Loeschcke.
During the war U-7 was responsible for sinking two vessels.
On 18 February 1944, west of Pillau, U-7 sank in what is believed to have been a malfunction during a diving manoeuvre. There were no survivors.[13]
Design
German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-7 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (254t), however.[14] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70m (140ft 1in), a pressure hull length of 28.20m (92ft 6in), a beam of 4.08m (13ft 5in), a height of 8.60m (28ft 3in), and a draught of 3.90m (12ft 10in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510kW; 690shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 460 metric horsepower (340kW; 450shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85m (3ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490ft).[14]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22km/h; 14mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13km/h; 8.1mph).[14] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78km; 40–48mi) at 4 knots (7.4km/h; 4.6mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000km; 4,400mi) at 8 knots (15km/h; 9.2mph). U-7 was fitted with three 53.3cm (21in)torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2cm (0.79in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of twentyfive.[14]
Service history
U-7 was ordered on 20 July 1934, i.e. in violation of the Versailles Treaty, which denied Germany possession of submarines. The U-boat was not laid down until 11 March 1935, and launched on 29 June 1935, within weeks of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, which granted Germany parity with the British Empire in submarines.
Commissioned on 18 July 1935 with Kapitänleutnant Kurt Freiwald in command, U-7 mainly served as a training boat except for two brief deployments during the Invasion of Poland in 1939 and Operation Weserübung in 1940.
On 18 February 1944, west of Pillau, U-7 sank in what is believed to have been a malfunction during a diving manoeuvre. There were no survivors.[13]
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-7". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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