German submarine U-712
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| History | |
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 Nazi Germany |
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| Name: | U-712 |
| Ordered: | 7 December 1940[1] |
| Builder: | HC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg |
| Laid down: | 4 September 1941[1] |
| Launched: | 10 August 1942[1] |
| Commissioned: | 5 November 1942[1] |
| Status: | Surrendered to Allied forces[1] |
| 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) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
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| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 0 patrols[1] |
German submarine U-712 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Commissioned on 5 November 1942, she served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla until 31 October 1943 as a training boat, and as a front boat in the 3rd U-boat Flotilla under Oberleutnant zur See Walter Pietschmann until 14 December, before being replaced by Oberleutnant zur See Walter-Ernst Koch.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-712 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 460/8–27 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).[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-712 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]
Service history
Built in werk 778 of the HC Stülcken & Sohn shipyard in Hamburg, U-712 was launched on 10 August 1942. After the completion of system checks and crew training, U-712 was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla on 13 October 1943. On 1 January 1944, she was re-assigned to the 21st U-boat Flotilla as a training boat. On the 3 July 1944, Oberleutnant zur See Koch handed over to Freiherr Eberhard von Ketelhodt, leaving to command U-975.[3] U-712's purpose was succeeded by a similar function with the 31st from 1 March 1945
In the rest of her career under Walter-Ernst Koch and Freiherr Eberhard von Ketelhodt, she served as a training vessel, never having made a single patrol.
Fate
After Germany's surrender in May 1945, U-712 was scuttled at Kristiansand in Norway. She was later taken to Loch Ryan in Scotland, where the British used her bulk for testing before braking her up at Hayle in 1950
References
Bibliography
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External links
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