| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-277 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan,Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 42 |
| Laid down | 3 March 1942 |
| Launched | 7 November 1942 |
| Commissioned | 21 December 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 1 May 1944[1] |
| 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 |
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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 49 190 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-277 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
The submarine waslaid down on 3 March 1942 at theBremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 42. She waslaunched on 7 November 1942 andcommissioned on 21 December under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Robert Lübsen.[1]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-277 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-277 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-277 served with the8th U-boat Flotilla for training from December 1942 to May 1943 and operationally with the6th U-boat Flotilla from 1 June.[1] She carried out six patrols, but sank no ships. She was a member of sixwolfpacks.
She carried out a short voyage betweenKiel in Germany andBergen in Norway over June 1943.
The boat departed Bergen on 29 June 1943 and docked atHammerfest viaBear Island on 17 August.
For her second sortie,U-277 departed Hammerfest on 29 August 1943. Her route took her as far north asSvalbard before arriving atNarvik on 10 October.
The boat's third patrol took her round Bear Island, but was otherwise uneventful.
Her fourth foray was followed by a series of short 'hops' between Hammerfest, Narvik, Trondheim and Bergen. During one of them, she ran aground and had to be towed off the offending rocks. The damage caused forced an immediate return to base.
Her penultimate, official patrol was between Narvik and Hammerfest.
She left Hammerfest for the last time on 11 April 1944. She was sunk southwest of Bear Island bydepth charges dropped from aFairey Swordfish ofNo. 842 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm on 1 May. The aircraft had come from the carrierHMS Fencer.
Fifty men died; there were no survivors.
U-277 took part in sixwolfpacks, namely: