German submarine U-245 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 18 November 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 679, launched on 25 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December under the command of Korvettenkapitän Friederich Schumann-Hindenberg.[1]
 A cross-section of a Type VIIC U-boat.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-245 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Yard number | 679 |
| Laid down | 18 November 1942 |
| Launched | 25 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 18 December 1943 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 52 094 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: |
3 merchant ships sunk (17,087 GRT) |
In three patrols, she sank three ships of 17,087 GRT.
She surrendered to the Allies on 9 May 1945.
Design
editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-245 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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).[3]
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).[3] 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-245 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a crew complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Service history
editAfter training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-245 was transferred to the 3rd flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 33rd flotilla on 1 October.[1]
First patrol
editThe boat's first patrol was preceded by a short trip between Kiel and Horten Naval Base in Norway. Her first sortie began with her departure from Horten on 14 August 1944. She passed into the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The boat was attacked by a Catalina flying boat on 30 September. No casualties or damage was sustained.
Second patrol
editU-245 sank Henry B. Plant about 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi) east of Ramsgate on 5 February 1945.
Third patrol
editShe also sank Filleigh and Karmt, both on 18 April and both about 10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) east southeast of North Foreland in Kent.
The boat surrendered at Bergen on 9 May 1945 and was transferred to Loch Ryan for scuttling in Operation Deadlight. She was scuttled on 7 December 1945.
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Displacement | Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 February 1945 | Henry B. Plant |  United States
|
7,240 | Sunk |
| 18 April 1945 | Filleigh |  United Kingdom
|
4,856 | Sunk |
| 18 April 1945 | Karmt |  Norway
|
4,991 | Sunk |
References
edit- ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-245". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-245". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-245". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Bibliography
edit- 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.
External links
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-245". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 245". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.