German submarine U-863
Appearance
History | |
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Name | U-863 |
Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
Builder | |
Yard number | 1069 |
Laid down | 15 September 1942 |
Launched | 29 June 1943 |
Commissioned | 3 November 1943 |
Fate | Sunk on 29 September 1944 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type IXD2 submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
Complement | 66 |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 53 881 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-863 was a long-range
.She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1069. She was launched on 29 June 1943 and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Esch on 3 November 1943.[3]
Design
MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[4]
Service history
On 20 July 1944, U-863 was attacked with
333 Squadron. U-863 was forced back to base to repair the minor damage suffered in the attack.[3]
On 29 September; U-863 was sunk by depth charges east southeast of
The wreck lies at 10°45′S 25°30′W / 10.750°S 25.500°W.[3]
References
- ^ Busch & Röll 1997, p. 384.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Dietrich von der Esch". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-863". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 74–75.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1997). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Die deutschen U-Boot-Kommandanten (in German). Vol. II. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0509-6.
- 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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-863". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-863". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.