| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-374 |
| Ordered | 23 September 1939[1] |
| Builder | Howaldtswerke,Kiel |
| Yard number | 5[1] |
| Laid down | 18 December 1939[1] |
| Launched | 10 May 1941[1] |
| Commissioned | 21 June 1941[1] |
| Fate | Sunk on 12 January 1942[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 45 441 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
German submarineU-374 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. She was ordered on 23 September 1939. Her keel waslaid down byHowaldtswerke inKiel on 18 December 1939, she waslaunched on 10 May 1941 and formally commissioned into theKriegsmarine on 21 June 1941 under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Unno von Fischel.
U-374 had a short career, carrying out three patrols. During these she sank one merchant ship, the BritishRose Schiaffino and two auxiliary warships, thenaval trawlerLady Shirley and naval yachtHMYRosabelle.
U-374 was sunk on 12 January 1942 in the western Mediterranean east of Cape Spartivento, in position37°50′N16°00′E / 37.833°N 16.000°E /37.833; 16.000, by torpedoes from the British submarineHMS Unbeaten. 42 of her crew were killed; there was one survivor.[2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-374 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-374 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 a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
29 September 1941 (Kiel) – 11 November 1941 (Brest)
6 December 1941 (Brest) – 14 December 1941 (La Spezia)
18 December 1941 (La Spezia) – 12 January 1942 (sunk at37°50′N16°00′E / 37.833°N 16.000°E /37.833; 16.000)[1]
U-374 took part in onewolfpack, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 1941 | Rose Schiaffino | 3,349 | Sunk | |
| 11 December 1941 | HMS Lady Shirley | 477 | Sunk | |
| 11 December 1941 | HMYRosabelle | 515 | Sunk |