German submarine U-706

Coordinates: 46°15′N 10°25′W / 46.250°N 10.417°W / 46.250; -10.417
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-706
Ordered9 October 1939
BuilderH. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number766
Laid down22 November 1940
Launched24 November 1941
Commissioned16 March 1942
FateSunk on 2 August 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)
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 43 347
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt.
    Alexander von Zitzewitz
  • 16 March 1942 – 2 August 1943
Operations:
  • 5 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 22 September – 7 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 8 December 1942 – 13 February 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 15 March – 11 May 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 4 – 8 July 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 26 – 27 July 1943
  • b. 29 July – 2 August 1943
Victories: 3 merchant ships sunk
(18,650 GRT)

German submarine U-706, a

type VIIC U-boat, was laid down on 22 November 1940. She was launched on 24 November 1941 and commissioned
on 16 March 1942.

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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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).[1]

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.[1]

Service history

U-706 was commanded by Korvettenkapitän Alexander von Zitzewitz. She was attached to the 5th Flotilla from 16 March until 30 September 1942. On 1 October 1942, she was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla and made five patrols during the war, sinking three ships with a total tonnage of 18,650 GRT. On 2 August 1943, while in Bay of Biscay, she was disabled by depth charges from a Canadian Hampden aircraft, then finished off by a US Liberator aircraft from A/S Sqdn. 4. She sank at position 46°15′N 10°25′W / 46.250°N 10.417°W / 46.250; -10.417.

Wolfpacks

U-706 took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:

  • Luchs (1 – 6 October 1942)
  • Panther (6 – 20 October 1942)
  • Südwärts (24 – 26 October 1942)
  • Falke (28 December 1942 – 4 January 1943)
  • Jaguar (18 – 31 January 1943)
  • Seeteufel (23 – 30 March 1943)
  • Löwenherz (1 – 10 April 1943)
  • Lerche (10 – 16 April 1943)
  • Meise (16 – 22 April 1943)
  • Specht (22 April – 4 May 1943)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (
GRT
)
Fate[2]
12 October 1942 Stornest  United Kingdom 4,265 Sunk
5 April 1943 British Ardour  United Kingdom 7,124 Sunk
12 April 1943 Fresno City  United Kingdom 7,261 Sunk

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-706". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

Bibliography

External links