German submarine U-1063

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-1063
Ordered:	14 October 1941
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	700
Laid down:	17 August 1943
Launched:	8 June 1944
Commissioned:	8 July 1944
Fate:	Sunk, 15 April 1945
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement:	759 tonnes (747 long tons) surfaced 860 t (846 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height:	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.74 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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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) Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 8 July 1944 – 28 February 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 15 April 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Karl-Heinz Stephan 8 July 1944 – 15 April 1945
Operations:	11 March – 15 April 1945
Victories:	None

German submarine U-1063 was a Type VIIC/41 submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 17 August 1943 by Germaniawerft in Kiel. She was commissioned on 8 July 1944 with Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Stephan in command.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1063 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 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 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).

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-1063 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

On her first patrol U-1063 was sunk on 15 April 1945 in the English Channel east of Land's End, south of Bigbury, Devon, in position , by squid depth charges from the British frigate HMS Loch Killin. 29 of the crew were killed, there were 17 survivors. She lies at a depth of 58 metres (190 ft).

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)