German submarine U-957
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name: | U-957 |
| Ordered: | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 157 |
| Laid down: | 11 March 1942 |
| Launched: | 21 November 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 7 January 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 21 October 1944 |
| Fate: | Scrapped, 1945 |
| 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 |
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German submarine U-957 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Laid down by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, on 11 March 1942, the U-boat was launched on 21 November 1942, and commissioned on 7 January 1943, by Leutnant zur See Franz Saar.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-957 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-957 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.[1]
Service history
Under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Schaar U-957 carried out seven war patrols between December 1943 and October 1944, sinking two commercial vessels; the British Fort Bellingham and the Soviet survey vessel Nord; and two military vessels, the American submarine chaser USS PTC-38, and the Soviet corvette Brilliant.
Fate
Her combat career ended on 19 October 1944 at Lofoten, Norway, when she collided with a German steamer. On 21 October 1944 she was taken out of service in Trondheim.
On 29 May 1945 she was taken to England where she was broken up.[2]
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship[3] | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 January 1944 | Fort Bellingham |  United Kingdom |
7,153 | Sunk |
| 26 January 1944 | USS PTC-38 |  United States Navy |
54 | Sunk |
| 26 August 1944 | Nord |  Soviet Navy |
411 | Sunk |
| 23 September 1944 | Brilliant | Soviet Navy |
550 | Sunk |
References
Bibliography
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External links
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