| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-274 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan,Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 39 |
| Laid down | 9 January 1942 |
| Launched | 19 September 1942 |
| Commissioned | 7 November 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 23 October 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[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 49 305 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-274 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
The submarine waslaid down on 9 January 1942 at theBremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 39. She waslaunched on 19 September 1942 andcommissioned on 7 November under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Günther Jordan.[1]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-274 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-274 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.[3]
U-274 served with the8th U-boat Flotilla for training from November 1942 to July 1943 and operationally with the7th U-boat Flotilla from 1 August 1943.[1] She carried out two patrols, but sank no ships.
She carried out short voyages betweenKiel in Germany andBergen andTrondheim in Norway over August 1943.
The boat departed Trondheim on 1 September 1943 and returned to the Norwegian port twelve days later on the 13th.
For her second sortie, the boat headed toward the Atlantic Ocean, via thegap betweenIceland and theFaroe Islands. She was sunk byHedgehog anddepth charges dropped by the British destroyersHMS Duncan andHMS Vidette and aB-24 Liberator ofNo. 224 Squadron RAF on 23 October 1943.
The pilot of the Liberator was a Swiss national serving in the RAF. Theintercom in the aircraft had been inadvertently left connected to the radio. As a result, ships of the nearby convoy escort heard an improvised commentary which was a great encouragement.[4][1]