German submarine U-951 explained

German submarine U-951 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 10 April 1941, and was laid down on 31 January 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 151. She was launched on 14 October 1942 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Pressel on 3 December 1942.[1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-951 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-951 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

Service history

On 7 July 1943, U-951 was sunk by depth charges, north-west of Cape St. Vincent in the North Atlantic, from a US B-24 Liberator of 1st A/S Squadron/K USAAF. Her crew of 46 were all lost.

The wreck is located at 37.6667°N -45°W.

Wolfpacks

U-951 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U-951. Helgason. Guðmundur. German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. 6 April 2016.