German_submarine_U-423

German submarine <i>U-423</i>

German submarine U-423

German type VII C world war II submarine

German submarine U-423 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Quick Facts History, Nazi Germany ...

She carried out one patrol. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk by a Norwegian aircraft northwest of the Faroe Islands on 17 June 1944.[1][2]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-423 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 Siemens-Schuckert 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-423 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

The submarine was laid down on 16 March 1942 at the Danziger Werft (yard) at Danzig (now Gdansk), as yard number 124, launched on 7 November and commissioned on 3 March under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Joachim Methner.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 3 March 1943 until her loss.

Patrol and loss

The boat's only patrol commenced with her departure from Kiel on 9 June 1944. On 17 June, she was sunk northeast of the Faroe Islands by depth charges dropped from a Norwegian PBY Catalina flying boat of No. 333 Squadron RAF.

Fifty-three men went down with the U-boat; there were no survivors.

References

  1. [1]
    Kemp 1999, p. 197.
  2. [2]
    Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-423". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  3. [3]
    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). 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
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