German submarine U-4706 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 14 November 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 948. She was launched on 19 January 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Manfred Schneider on 7 February 1945.[1]
Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-4706 had a displacement of 234t when at the surface and 258t while submerged. She had a total length of 34.68m (113.78feet) (o/a), a beam width of 3.02m (09.91feet) (o/a), and a draught depth of 3.660NaN0. The submarine was powered by one MWM six-cylinder RS134S diesel engine providing 575-, one AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor electric motor providing 580PS, and one BBC silent running CCR188 electric motor providing 35PS.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate at for ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-4706 was fitted with two 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes in the bow. She could carry two preloaded torpedoes. The complement was 14–18 men. This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.[1]
On 9 May 1945, U-4706 surrendered at Kristiansand, Norway.
In October 1948, U-4706 was transferred to Norway, and the Royal Norwegian Navy quickly gave her the impromptu name HNoMS Knerten ("the runt") in reference to her diminutive size relative to the three Type VIIC/41 boats that were acquired at the same time. Knerten was briefly homeported in Trondheim in 1949, slated to be used as a development testbed for air-independent propulsion technology, but a lack of spare parts and a battery explosion accident prevented her from ever being entered into service.[2] [3] From 14 April 1950, the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club used her for storage until she was struck in 1954 and broken up.