German submarine U-974

	U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-974.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-974
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	174
Laid down	26 June 1942
Launched	11 March 1943
Commissioned	22 April 1943
Fate	Sunk on 19 April 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a ; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull ;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines ; 2 × electric motors ;
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	220 m (720 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × torpedoes or; 26 TMA mines ; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun ;
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla ; 22 April – 31 October 1943; 7th U-boat Flotilla ; 1 November 1943 – 19 April 1944;
Identification codes:	M 43 387
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Joachim Zaubitzer; 22 April – 8 November 1943; Oblt.z.S. Heinz Wolff; 9 November 1943 – 19 April 1944;
Operations:	1 patrol:; 18 – 19 April 1944;
Victories:	None

Last updated March 18, 2024

German submarine U-974 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-974 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[4] 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).^[4]

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).^[4] 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-974 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, 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 44 — 52 men.^[4]

Service history

On 19 April 1944, U-974 was sunk by torpedoes near Stavanger, Norway, in the Boknafjord. U-974 was attacked by a Norwegian submarine, HNoMS Ula. Eight of the crew of fifty survived.^[3]

The wreck is located at 59°08′N05°23′E / 59.133°N 5.383°E / 59.133; 5.383 .^[3]

Discovery of wreck

In 1996, an ROV at a depth of about 190 m (620 ft) discovered the wreck of U-974. She had broken into two separate parts of about 15 m (49 ft) and 40 m (130 ft) in length. The wreck of U-974 lies in the Boknafjord around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) southeast of Loten, Bokn.^[3]

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-999 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

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

German submarine U-1103 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-922 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-975 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-982 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1056 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1193 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1196 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1204 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-2520 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 24 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2520. She was launched on 16 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albrecht Schubart on 25 December 1944.

German submarine U-3044 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 21 December 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1203. She was launched on 1 March 1945, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Bernhard Jaek on 27 March 1945.

German submarine U-3011 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 14 August 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1170. She was launched on 20 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Tinschert on 21 December 1944.

German submarine U-3507 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 19 July 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1652. She was launched on 16 September 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Otto Niethmann on 19 October 1944.

German submarine U-3511 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 14 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1656. She was launched on 11 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Martin Grasse on 18 November 1944.

German submarine U-2539 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 27 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2539. She was launched on 6 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erich Jewinski on 21 February 1945.

German submarine U-3001 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 15 April 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1160. She was launched on 30 May 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Vogel on 20 July 1944.

German submarine U-2533 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 13 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2533. She was launched on 7 December 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst Günther on 18 January 1945.

German submarine U-3006 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 12 June 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1165. She was launched on 25 August 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Klaus Popp on 5 October 1944.

German submarine U-3501 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 20 March 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1646. She was launched on 19 April 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Münster on 29 July 1944.

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Joachim Zaubitzer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Wolff". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-974". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

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.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
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 Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-974". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.

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. "Joachim Zaubitzer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

[2] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Wolff". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

[uboat-3] 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-974". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2016.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-4] 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e German Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1944
Shipwrecks	2 Apr: U-360 3 Apr: U-288 4 Apr: I-169 6 Apr: U-302 , U-455 7 Apr: I-2, U-856 8 Apr: U-2 , U-962 9 Apr: U-515 10 Apr: USS SC-497, U-68 11 Apr: Akigumo , U-108 12 Apr: I-174 13 Apr: Ikazuchi 14 Apr: Fort Stikine, U-448 15 Apr: No. 7 16 Apr: U-550 17 Apr: U-342 , U-986 18 Apr: USS Gudgeon, Pan-Pennsylvania 19 Apr: U-974 20 Apr: USS Lansdale, Paul Hamilton, Voorbode 21 Apr: M 553 22 Apr: U-311 23 Apr: Amagiri 26 Apr: V 606 Fladengrund, I-180 , U-488 , Yoshida Maru No. 1 27 Apr: U-803 , Yūbari 28 Apr: USS LST-507 29 Apr: HMCS Athabaskan, I-183 , USS PT-346, Sirène, U-421 30 Apr: Ro-45 Unknown date: U-193 , U-355
Other incidents	2 Apr: I-46, Ro-46 10 Apr: USS Holder 11 Apr: USS Cero 13 Apr: USS Bashaw 14 Apr: Bombay explosion, HMHS Chantilly 16 Apr: Pan-Pennsylvania 20 Apr: Bergen explosion 24 Apr: LST-407 27 Apr: USS Etamin 29 Apr: USS Seahorse
1943 1944 1945 March 1944 May 1944

History
U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-974.
Nazi Germany
Name	U-974
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	174
Laid down	26 June 1942
Launched	11 March 1943
Commissioned	22 April 1943
Fate	Sunk on 19 April 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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	220 m (720 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 22 April – 31 October 1943 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1943 – 19 April 1944
Identification codes:	M 43 387
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Joachim Zaubitzer^[1] 22 April – 8 November 1943 Oblt.z.S. Heinz Wolff^[2] 9 November 1943 – 19 April 1944
Operations:	1 patrol: 18 – 19 April 1944
Victories:	None