Attached to 5th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-715 completed her training period on 31 May 1944 and was assigned to front-line service.
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).
anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
Service history
On the first and final patrol, U-715 was spotted north-east of Faeroe on 13 June 1944 by CansoT of No. 162 Squadron RCAF and attacked with depth charges while snorkeling at periscope depth. Heavily damaged, the U-boat surfaced and returned fire, managing to down the Canadian aircraft before sinking in position 62°55′N2°59′W / 62.917°N 2.983°W / 62.917; -2.983. This was the first occasion when a submerged U-boat was detected and attacked. Of the crew of 52, only 16 survived.[2]
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.