U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical toU-974. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-974 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 174 |
| Laid down | 26 June 1942 |
| Launched | 11 March 1943 |
| Commissioned | 22 April 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk on 19 April 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 43 387 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-974 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and waslaid down on 26 June 1942 atBlohm & Voss,Hamburg, as yard number 174. She waslaunched on 11 March 1943 andcommissioned under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Joachim Zaubitzer on 22 April 1943.[3]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-974 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]
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).[4] 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-974 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes or 26 TMAmines, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between 44 — 52 men.[4]
On 19 April 1944,U-974 was sunk by torpedoes nearStavanger, Norway, in theBoknafjord.U-974 was attacked by aNorwegian submarine,HNoMS Ula. Eight of the crew of fifty survived.[3]
The wreck is located at59°08′N05°23′E / 59.133°N 5.383°E /59.133; 5.383.[3]
In 1996, anROV at a depth of about 190 m (620 ft) discovered the wreck ofU-974. She had broken into two separate parts of about 15 m (49 ft) and 40 m (130 ft) in length. The wreck ofU-974 lies in theBoknafjord around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) southeast of Loten,Bokn.[3]