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German submarine U-416

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German World War II submarine

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-416
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderDanziger Werft, Danzig
Yard number117
Laid down11 August 1941
Launched9 May 1942
Commissioned4 November 1942
FateSunk by a Soviet mine on 30 March 1943; sunk again on 12 December 1944 in the Baltic Sea after a collision with a German ship
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 853
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Christian Reich
  • 4 November 1942 – 30 March 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Rudolf Zorn
  • 4 October – 14 November 1943
  • Kptlt. Heinz Zwang
  • 15 November 1943 – 15 May 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Rieger
  • 16 May – 12 December 1944
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-416 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk by a Soviet mine on 30 March 1943; raised and sunk again on 12 December 1944 in the Baltic Sea after colliding with a German ship.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-416 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel 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, two Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 double-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).

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-416 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The submarine was laid down on 11 August 1941 at the Danziger Werft (yard) at Danzig (now Gdansk), as yard number 117, launched on 9 May 1942 and commissioned on 4 November under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Christian Reich.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 4 November 1942 and the 23rd flotilla from 4 October 1943. She was reassigned to the 21st flotilla on 1 July 1944.

Fate

U-416 was sunk on 30 March 1943 by a mine laid by the Soviet submarine L-3 on 26 August 1942 near Bornholm (eastern Denmark). She was raised on 8 April 1943 and after repairs, used for training. She was in collision with the German minesweeper M 203 and sunk again on 12 December 1944 northwest of Pillau, (Balltiysk) in Russia.

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-416". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. Kemp 1999, pp. 109, 225.
  3. Kemp 1999, p. 109.
  4. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. The Times Atlas of the World – Third edition, revised 1995, ISBN 0 7230 0809 4, p. 18

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links

Type VII submarines
Type VIIA
Type VIIB
Type VIIC
Type VIIC/41
Type VIID
Type VIIF
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1943
Shipwrecks
Other incidents
1942 1943 1944
February 1943 April 1943
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1944
Shipwrecks
Other incidents
1943 1944 1945
November 1944 January 1945

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