| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-308 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | Flender Werke,Lübeck |
| Yard number | 308 |
| Laid down | 5 November 1941 |
| Launched | 31 October 1942 |
| Commissioned | 23 December 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 4 June 1943[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 49 231 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-308 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. TheU-boat waslaid down on 5 November 1941 at theFlender Werke inLübeck as yard number 308,launched on 31 October 1942 andcommissioned on 23 December 1942 under the command ofLeutnant zur See Karl Mühlenpfordt.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-308 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/cdouble-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] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-308 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
With a crew of forty-four,U-308 carried out one patrol and did not sink or damage any ships. She was sunk with all hands on this patrol in theNorwegian Sea north-east of theFaroe Islands bytorpedoes from the British submarineHMS Truculent on 4 June 1943.