German submarine U-678

Coordinates: 50°32′N 00°23′W / 50.533°N 0.383°W / 50.533; -0.383
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-678
Ordered5 June 1941
Builder
Howaldtswerke, Hamburg
Yard number827
Laid down3 September 1942
Launched18 September 1943
Commissioned25 October 1943
FateSunk on 6 July 1944 in the English Channel in position 50°32′N 00°23′W / 50.533°N 0.383°W / 50.533; -0.383, by depth charges from HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and HMS Statice.[1]
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
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 52 381
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S.
    Guido Hyronimus
  • 25 October 1943 – 6 July 1944
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 8 June – 6 July 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-678 was a

Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II
. She was
Howaldtswerke, Hamburg as yard number 827, launched on 18 September 1943 and commissioned on 25 October 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See
Guido Hyronimus.

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).

2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 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 5th U-boat Flotilla on 25 October 1943, followed by active service on 1 June 1944 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the remainder of her short service. In one patrol she sank no ships.[3] U-678 was sunk on 6 July 1944 in the English Channel in position 50°32′N 00°23′W / 50.533°N 0.383°W / 50.533; -0.383, by depth charges from the Canadian destroyers HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and the Royal Navy corvette HMS Statice. All crew members died.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-678". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Busch & Röll 1999.

Bibliography

External links