German submarine U-1017

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1017.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1017
Ordered23 March 1942
BuilderBlohm & Voss AG, Hamburg
Yard number217
Laid down19 April 1943
Launched1 March 1944
Commissioned13 April 1944
FateSunk on 29 April 1945 at 56°04′N 11°06′W / 56.067°N 11.100°W / 56.067; -11.100 by RAF Liberator bomber
General characteristics (VIIC/41)[1]
Class and typeType VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement44-52 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 03 373
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Viktor Graf von Reventlow-Criminil[2]
  • 13 April – 16 June 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Riecken[3]
  • 17 June 1944 – 29 April 1945
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 28 December 1944 – 2 March 1945
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 14 – 29 April 1945
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(10,604 GRT)

German submarine U-1017 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 April 1943 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 217, launched on 1 March 1944 and commissioned on 13 April 1944 under Kapitänleutnant Victor Graf von Reventlow-Criminil.[4]

Design

Like all Type VIIC/41 U-boats, U-1017 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 67.23 m (220 ft 7 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in).[5] The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged six-cylinder four-stroke 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) and two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. The boat was capable of operating at a depth of 250 metres (820 ft).[5]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a 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).[5] U-1017 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA or TMB Naval mines, 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 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. Its complement was between forty-four and sixty.[5]

Service history

The boat's service career began on 13 April 1944 with the 31st Training Flotilla, followed by active service with 11th Flotilla on 1 November 1944. U-1017 took part in no wolfpacks U-1017 was sunk by depth charges and a FIDO homing torpedo dropped by a RAF Liberator bomber of 120 Squadron on 29 April 1945 in the North Atlantic, NW of Ireland in position 56°04′N 11°06′W / 56.067°N 11.100°W / 56.067; -11.100.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[6]
6 February 1945 Everleigh  United Kingdom 5,222 Sunk
11 February 1945 Persier  Belgium 5,382 Sunk

See also

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type VIIC/41". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Viktor Graf von Reventlow-Criminil". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Werner Riecken (German Cross in Gold)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. ^ de:Victor Graf von Reventlow-Criminil (1916-1992)
  5. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1017". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 March 2015.

Bibliography

  • 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.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.