German submarine U-434
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name: | U-434 |
| Ordered: | 23 September 1939 |
| Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
| Yard number: | 1475 |
| Laid down: | 20 January 1940 |
| Launched: | 15 March 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 21 June 1941 |
| Fate: | Sunk, 18 December 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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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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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | One patrol: 2 November – 18 December 1941 |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-434 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The U-boat was laid down on 20 January 1940 at the Schichau-Werke yard, Danzig, launched on 15 March 1941, and commissioned on 21 June 1941, Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Heyda commanding.[1]
U-434 sailed from Kristiansand, Norway on 2 November 1941, on her first and only war patrol. On 18 December, U-434 was sunk in the North Atlantic north of Madeira, Portugal, in position Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. The U-boat was forced to the surface by depth charges from the British escort destroyer HMS Blankney and the destroyer HMS Stanley. There were 2 dead and 42 survivors.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-434 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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 460/8-276 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).[2]
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).[2] 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-434 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.[2]
Wolfpacks
U-434 took part in two wolfpacks, namely.
- Steuben (14 November – 1 December 1941)
- Seeräuber (15–18 December 1941)
References
Bibliography
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Movietone News Clip of the sinking of U-434 - Title: U-Boats destroyed in convoy
- Use dmy dates from December 2014
- German Type VIIC submarines
- U-boats commissioned in 1941
- U-boats sunk in 1941
- World War II submarines of Germany
- 1941 ships
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- Ships built in Danzig
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- U-boats sunk by British warships
- Ships built by Schichau
- Maritime incidents in December 1941
