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German submarine U-337

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-337
Ordered21 November 1940
BuilderNordseewerke, Emden
Yard number209
Laid down1 April 1941
Launched26 March 1942
Commissioned6 May 1942
FateMissing since 3 January 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType 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][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 45 912
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Kurt Ruwiedel
  • 6 May 1942 – 3 January 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 24 December 1942 – 3 January 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-337 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.[1]

The submarine was laid down on 1 April 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden, launched on 26 March 1942, and commissioned on 6 May 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Ruwiedel.[1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-337 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 460/8-276 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-337 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.[3]

Armament

FLAK weaponry

U-337 was mounted with two 2cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield on the upper Wintergarten.[4] The M 43U mount was used on a number of U-boats (U-249, U-250, U-278, U-250, U-475, U-853, U-1058, U-1109, U-1023, U-1105, U-1165 and U-1306).

  • 2 cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield.
    2 cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield.

Service history

After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-337 was transferred to the 6th U-boat Flotilla based at Saint-Nazaire in France for front-line service.[1] After sailing from Kiel on 24 December 1942, the U-boat sailed north and then west into the Atlantic south of Iceland.[5] Her last radio report, on 3 January 1943, gave her position as 63°N 12°W / 63°N 12°W / 63; -12. The U-boat was never heard from again. Its fate remains an unsolved mystery.[1]

Previously recorded fate

A postwar assessment stated U-337 was sunk on 15 January 1943 southwest of Iceland by depth charges from a British Flying Fortress of No. 206 RAF. This attack was actually against U-632, inflicting no damage.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC U-boat U-337". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by U-337". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Base on war-time photographs.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-337 from 24 Dec 1942 to 3 Jan 1943". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 April 2010.

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, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-337". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 337". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
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