German submarine U-446

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-446
Ordered6 August 1940
BuilderF Schichau, Danzig
Yard number1506
Laid down9 April 1941
Launched11 April 1942
Commissioned20 June 1942
FateSunk on 21 September 1942 by a mine. Raised on 1 November 1942; scuttled on 3 May 1945. Broken up in 1947
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 [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 06 578
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hellmuth-Bert Richard
  • 20 June – 21 September 1942
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-446 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk on 21 September 1942 by a mine. She was raised on 1 November 1942 and scuttled on 3 May 1945. She was broken up in 1947.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-446 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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-446 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 history

The submarine was laid down on 9 April 1941 at F Schichau in Danzig (now Gdansk), as yard number 1506, launched on 11 April 1942 and commissioned on 20 June under Oberleutnant zur See Hellmuth-Bert Richard.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 20 June 1942 until 21 September.

Fate

The submarine was sunk on 21 September 1942 by a mine near Kahlberg (now Krynica Morska in Poland) in the Gulf of Danzig. She was raised on 1 November and scuttled near Kiel on 3 May 1945. She was broken up in 1947.

Twenty-three men died in the mine sinking; there were eighteen survivors.

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References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-446". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography