| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-246 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft,Kiel |
| Yard number | 680 |
| Laid down | 30 November 1942 |
| Launched | 7 December 1943 |
| Commissioned | 11 January 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk on 17 March 1945 |
| 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, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[1][2] | |
| Part of |
|
| Identification codes | M 53 307 |
| Commanders |
|
| Operations |
|
| Victories | None |
German submarineU-246 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The submarine waslaid down on 30 November 1942 at theFriedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard atKiel,launched on 7 December 1943 andcommissioned on 11 January 1944 under the command ofKapitänleutnant Ernst Raabe.
After training with the5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel,U-246 was transferred to the3rd U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. However, before the U-boat had sailed on her first combat patrol the flotilla was disbanded, and the U-boat was transferred to the11th flotilla based atBergen in Norway, on 1 October 1944. She was sunk on 17 March 1945.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-246 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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, twoAEG GU 460/8–27double-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).[3]
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).[3] 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-246 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), one3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
U-246 had a very short career. She only participated in two war patrols and did not sink any enemy vessels. Her last report was made on 7 March 1945, while in the middle of her second patrol. Shortly afterwards, she sank due to depth charges from British ASW trawler HMS Lady Madeleine in the Irish Sea with the loss of her entire crew of 48 men.[1]
U-246 sailed from Kiel toHorten Naval Base in Norway, from 28 to 30 September 1944, continuing on toKristiansand on 4 and 5 October.[2] From there she sailed on her first patrol on 7 October, around theBritish Isles to the waters south-west of Ireland. On 26 October she was attacked by an unknown Allied aircraft with depth charges, causing severe damage and forcing the U-boat to return to base atStavanger on 11 November.[4] The next dayU-246 sailed from Stavanger to Bergen for repairs.[2]
The U-boat sailed from Bergen on 21 February 1945.[2] On 7 March she reported for the last time while en route for her operational area in theIrish Sea. No further reports were received, she was sunk on 17 March 1945.[1] Her wreck lies at53°40′N04°53′W / 53.667°N 4.883°W /53.667; -4.883.[1]
