German submarine U-414

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-414
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Danziger Werft, Danzig
Yard number	115
Laid down	14 June 1941
Launched	25 March 1942
Commissioned	1 July 1942
Fate	Sunk on 25 May 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°31′N 00°40′E / 36.517°N 0.667°E, by depth charges from HMS Vetch.
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
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);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × torpedoes; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 1 July – 31 December 1942; 6th U-boat Flotilla; 1 January – 30 April 1943; 29th U-boat Flotilla; 1 – 25 May 1943;
Identification codes:	M 15 421
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Walther Huth; 1 July 1942 – 25 May 1943;
Operations:	3 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 7 January – 19 February 1943; 2nd patrol:; 1 – 14 April 1943; 3rd patrol:; 13 – 25 May 1943;
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk ; (5,979 GRT); 1 merchant ship damaged ; (7,134 GRT);

German submarine U-414 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 14 June 1941 by Danziger Werft, Danzig as yard number 115, launched on 25 March 1942 and commissioned on 1 July 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Walther Huth.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-414 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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).^[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-414 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 1 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 January 1943 as part of the 6th Flotilla. Four months later, on 1 May 1943, she transferred to 29th Flotilla for operations in the Mediterranean for the short remainder of her service.

In three patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 5,979 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged one other.

Wolfpacks

U-414 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Falke (15 – 19 January 1943)
Haudegen (19 January – 2 February 1943)

Fate

U-414 was sunk on 25 May 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°31′N 00°40′E / 36.517°N 0.667°E / 36.517; 0.667, by depth charges from HMS Vetch. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate^[3]
18 May 1943	Fort Anne	United Kingdom	7,134	Damaged
18 May 1943	Empire Eve	United Kingdom	5,979	Sunk

References

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-414". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-414". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 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.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.