German submarine U-737 explained

German submarine U-737 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 14 February 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 30 January 1943 with Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Poeschel in command.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-737 had a displacement of 769t when at the surface and 871t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.1m (220.1feet), a pressure hull length of 50.5m (165.7feet), a beam of 6.2m (20.3feet), a height of 9.6m (31.5feet), and a draught of 4.74m (15.55feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-737 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat was attacked twice by aircraft while on active service. Once early in 1944, by a RAF British Liberator aircraft. She managed to damage the plane with anti-aircraft fire, which had to abort the attack and was forced to make a belly landing because of damage sustained. In later 1944, the U-boat was attacked by a Soviet plane, three crew were injured, before she dived.

Wolfpacks

U-737 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

While on active duty under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-August Greus, U-737 sank at 00:18 on 19 December 1944 in the Vestfjorden, in position 68.15°N 54°W. She had collided with German depot ship, MRS 25. 31 crew died, with 20 survivors.

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