German submarine U-434
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-434 |
Ordered: | 23 September 1939 |
Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
Yard number: | 1475 |
Laid down: | 20 January 1940 |
Launched: | 15 March 1941 |
Commissioned: | 21 June 1941 |
Fate: | Sunk, 18 December 1941 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement: |
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Length: |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power: |
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Propulsion: |
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Speed: |
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Range: | |
Test depth: |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | One patrol: 2 November – 18 December 1941 |
Victories: | None |
German submarine U-434 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The U-boat was laid down on 20 January 1940 at the Schichau-Werke yard, Danzig, launched on 15 March 1941, and commissioned on 21 June 1941, Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Heyda commanding.[1]
U-434 sailed from Kristiansand, Norway on 2 November 1941, on her first and only war patrol. On 18 December, U-434 was sunk in the North Atlantic north of Madeira, Portugal, in position 36°15′N 15°48′W / 36.250°N 15.800°WCoordinates: 36°15′N 15°48′W / 36.250°N 15.800°W. The U-boat was forced to the surface by depth charges from the British escort destroyer HMS Blankney and the destroyer HMS Stanley. There were 2 dead and 42 survivors.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-434 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 460/8-276 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).[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-434 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Wolfpacks
U-434 took part in two wolfpacks, namely.
- Steuben (14 November – 1 December 1941)
- Seeräuber (15–18 December 1941)
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-434". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- 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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). 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. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-434". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Movietone News Clip of the sinking of U-434 - Title: U-Boats destroyed in convoy