![]() U-995 Type VIIC/41 at theLaboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical toU-1273. | |
History | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Name | U-1273 |
Ordered | 23 March 1942 |
Builder | Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft,Bremen-Vegesack |
Yard number | 68 |
Laid down | 7 June 1943 |
Launched | 10 January 1944 |
Commissioned | 16 February 1944 |
Fate | Sunk on 17 February 1945 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Type VIIC/41submarine |
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 | 44-52 officers & ratings |
Armament |
|
Service record | |
Part of: |
|
Identification codes: | M 50 803 |
Commanders: | |
Operations: |
|
Victories: | None |
German submarineU-1273 was aType VIIC/41U-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
She was ordered on 23 March 1942, and waslaid down on 7 June 1943, at Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft,Bremen-Vegesack, as yard number 68. She waslaunched on 10 January 1944, andcommissioned under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Voswinkel on 16 February 1944.[3]
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavierType VIIC submarines.U-1273 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had atotal length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), an overallbeam 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 460/8-276double-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). 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-1273 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 two2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and fifty-two.[4]
On 17 February 1945,U-1273 struck aBritish air-laidmine offHorten in theSkagerrak inOslofjord.Kapitänleutnant Helmut Knollmann and 42 other crewmen died out of a crew of 51.[3]
The wreck now lies at59°24′N10°32′E / 59.400°N 10.533°E /59.400; 10.533.[3]