German submarine U-224

Coordinates: 36°28′N 0°49′E / 36.467°N 0.817°E / 36.467; 0.817
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-224
Ordered15 August 1940
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost4,439,000 Reichsmark
Yard number654
Laid down15 July 1941
Launched7 May 1942
Commissioned20 June 1942
FateSunk 13 January 1943
General characteristics
Class and type
Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)
    o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)
    pressure hull
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 05 768
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S.
    Hans-Karl Kosbadt
  • 20 June 1942 – 13 January 1943
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 17 October – 9 December 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 3 – 13 January 1943
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(9,535 GRT)

German submarine U-224 was a

.

Ordered on 15 August 1940 from the

Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, she was laid down on 15 July 1941 as yard number 654, launched on 7 May 1942 and commissioned
on 20 June.

U-224 was attacked with depth charges and rammed by Canadian corvette HMCS Ville de Quebec west of Algiers on 13 January 1943. 45 crew members died when the boat sank.

Design

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 (4.0 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).

2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Wolfpacks

U-224 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

  • Puma (26 – 29 October 1942)
  • Natter (30 October – 8 November 1942)
  • Kreuzotter (8 – 18 November 1942)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (
GRT
)
Fate[4]
29 October 1942 Bic Island  Canada 3,921 Sunk
12 November 1942 Buchanan  Panama 5,614 Sunk

See also

  • Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XB boat U-224". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-224". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-224". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

External links

36°28′N 0°49′E / 36.467°N 0.817°E / 36.467; 0.817