German submarine U-434
History | |
---|---|
Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-434 |
Ordered | 23 September 1939 |
Builder | Danzig |
Yard number | 1475 |
Laid down | 20 January 1940 |
Launched | 15 March 1941 |
Commissioned | 21 June 1941 |
Fate | Sunk on 18 December 1941 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
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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Identification codes: | M 43 633 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-434 was a
.The U-boat was
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 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°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 two dead and 42 survivors.
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 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 cm (0.79 in) C/30 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 25 August 2009.
- ^ 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.
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