German submarine U-207

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-207
Ordered16 October 1939
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number636
Laid down14 August 1940
Launched24 April 1941
Commissioned7 June 1941
FateSunk by British warships, 11 September 1941
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC 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)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 43 387
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Fritz Meyer
  • 7 June – 11 September 1941
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 24 August – 11 September 1941
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(9,727 GRT)

German submarine U-207 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Ordered on 16 October 1939 from the Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, she was laid down on 14 August 1940 as yard number 636, launched on 24 April 1941 and commissioned on 7 June under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Fritz Meyer.

She sank two ships totalling 9,727 gross register tons (GRT) in one patrol.

She was sunk by two British warships near Greenland on 11 September 1941.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-207 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 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).[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-207 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]

Service history

U-207's only patrol began with her departure from Trondheim in Norway on 24 August 1941. She headed west, approaching southern Greenland and attacking the north Atlantic convoy SC 42, sinking Stonepool using torpedoes and five minutes later Berury with gunfire. The convoy escorts reacted swiftly: HMS Leamington and Veteran used depth charges to sink the U-boat.

All 41 crewmen died.

Wolfpacks

U-207 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

  • Markgraf (27 August - 11 September 1941)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[2]
11 September 1941 Stonepool  United Kingdom 4,803 Sunk
11 September 1941 Berury  United Kingdom 4,924 Sunk

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-207". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.

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.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-207". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 207". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2014.