| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-170 |
| Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder | DeSchiMAG,Bremen |
| Yard number | 709 |
| Laid down | 21 May 1941 |
| Launched | 6 June 1942 |
| Commissioned | 19 January 1943 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type IXC/40submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 49 255 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (4,663 GRT) |
German submarineU-170 was aType IXC/40U-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine built for service duringWorld War II.Her keel waslaid down on 21 May 1941 by theDeutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG inBremen as yard number 709. She waslaunched on 6 June 1942 andcommissioned on 19 January 1943 withKapitänleutnant Günther Pfeffer in command.
The U-boat's service began with training as part of the4th U-boat Flotilla. She then moved to the10th flotilla on 1 June 1943 for operations. She was reassigned to the33rd flotilla on 1 November 1944.
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the originalType IXCs.U-170 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), apressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), abeam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by twoMAN M 9 V 40/46supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinderdiesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, twoSiemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 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 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-170 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22torpedoes, one10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of forty-eight.[2]
U-170's first patrol began with her departure fromKiel on 27 May 1943. Her route took her the long way around theBritish Isles to the Atlantic Ocean west of theAzores. She had passed through the 'gap' betweenIceland and theFaroe Islands. She arrived atLorient in occupied France on 9 July.[3]
Her second sortie was to the Brazilian coast. Here she sank theCampos (4,663 GRT) on 23 October 1943,[4] 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) south ofAlcatrazes Islands.
The boat's third foray was to the US east coast. She departed Lorient on 9 February 1944 and returned to the same port on 27 May.
Her last patrol was to the waters off West Africa. On the return voyage to Germany, she was attacked by unidentified destroyers west of southern Ireland on 30 October 1944 and was badly damaged. She also reported a damagedSchnorchel (underwater breathing device), on 5 November and docked in Norway for repairs. She arrived atFlensburg on 4 December.
U-170 surrendered inHorten Naval Base, Norway on 9 May[5] 1945, and was transferred toLoch Ryan inScotland. She wasscuttled on 30 November 1945 as part ofOperation Deadlight.
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 October 1943 | Campos |  Brazil | 4,663 | Sunk |
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1945 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents | |
