German submarine U-923
German submarine U-923 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-923. | |
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-923 |
Ordered: | 6 June 1941 |
Builder: | Neptun Werft AG, Rostock |
Yard number: | 510 |
Laid down: | 21 February 1942 |
Launched: | 7 August 1943 |
Commissioned: | 4 October 1943 |
Fate: | Sunk on 9 February 1945 |
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, 44–52 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
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Commanders: | |
Operations: | No patrols |
Victories: | None |
She was ordered on 6 June 1941, and was laid down on 21 February 1942 at Neptun Werft AG, Rostock, as yard number 510. She was launched on 7 August 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Frömmer on 4 October 1943.[2]
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-923 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 SSW GU 343/38-8 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-923 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[3]
Service history
U-923 sunk 9 February 1945, in the Bay of Kiel in the Baltic Sea after striking a British air-laid mine. The crew of 48 were all lost.[2]
The wreck is located at 54°31′N 10°18′E.[2]
References
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Frömmer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-923". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- 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-923". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.