German submarine U-421
History | |
---|---|
Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-421 |
Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
Builder | Danzig |
Yard number | 122 |
Laid down | 20 January 1942 |
Launched | 24 September 1942 |
Commissioned | 13 January 1943 |
Fate | Sunk on 29 April 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 43°07′N 05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E in an air raid by US aircraft. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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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[1] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 49 743 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-421 was a
. She wasDanzig as yard number 122, launched on 24 September 1942 and commissioned on 13 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See
Hans Kolbus.
Design
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).[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).anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at
Mediterranean for the remainder of her service. In two patrols she sank no ships.[1]
Wolfpacks
U-421 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
- Coronel (4 – 8 December 1943)
- Coronel 1 (8 – 14 December 1943)
- Coronel 2 (14 – 17 December 1943)
- Föhr (18 – 23 December 1943)
- Rügen 6 (23 – 26 December 1943)
- Hela (28 December 1943 – 1 January 1944)
Fate
U-421 was sunk on 29 April 1944 in the
military port of Toulon, France, in an air raid by US aircraft.[1]
See also
- Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)
References
- ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-421". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-421". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.