German submarine U-446

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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-446
Ordered6 August 1940
BuilderF Schichau,
Danzig
Yard number1506
Laid down9 April 1941
Launched11 April 1942
Commissioned20 June 1942
FateSunk on 21 September 1942 by a
mine
. Raised on 1 November 1942; scuttled on 3 May 1945. Broken up in 1947
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]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 06 578
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S.
    Hellmuth-Bert Richard
  • 20 June – 21 September 1942
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-446 was a

.

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk on 21 September 1942 by a

mine. She was raised on 1 November 1942 and scuttled on 3 May 1945. She was broken up
in 1947.

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 460/8–27 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]

Service history

The submarine was

Danzig (now Gdansk), as yard number 1506, launched on 11 April 1942 and commissioned on 20 June under Oberleutnant zur See
Hellmuth-Bert Richard.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 20 June 1942 until 21 September.

Fate

The submarine was sunk on 21 September 1942 by a

Gulf of Danzig. She was raised on 1 November and scuttled near Kiel on 3 May 1945. She was broken up
in 1947.

Twenty-three men died in the mine sinking; there were eighteen survivors.

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-446". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

External links