German submarine U-737

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-737
Ordered	10 April 1941
Builder	Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number	1534
Laid down	14 February 1942
Launched	21 November 1942
Commissioned	30 January 1943
Fate	Sunk on 19 December 1944
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;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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; 30 January – 30 June 1943; 13th U-boat Flotilla; 1 July 1943 – 19 December 1944;
Identification codes:	M 49 907
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Poeschel; 30 January – 4 February 1943; Kptlt. Paul Brasack; 5 February 1943 – 24 November 1944; Oblt.z.S. Friedrich-August Greus; 25 November – 19 December 1944;
Operations:	9 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 8 August – 20 September 1943; 2nd patrol:; a. 4 – 23 October 1943; b. 24 October 1943; c. 27 – 29 October 1943; d. 13 – 15 January 1944; 3rd patrol:; a. 16 January – 10 February 1944; b. 11 – 12 February 1944; c. 28 – 29 February 1944; 4th patrol:; a. 1 – 8 March 1944; b. 9 – 12 March 1944; c. 2 – 4 May 1944; d. 8 May 1944; 5th patrol:; a. 13 May – 7 June 1944; b. 11 – 12 June 1944; c. 14 – 18 June 1944; 6th patrol:; a. 24 June – 9 July 1944; b. 15 – 17 July 1944; c. 16 – 21 September 1944; d. 22 September 1944; 7th patrol:; 24 September – 3 October 1944; 8th patrol:; a. 12 – 24 October 1944; b. 25 – 31 October 1944; 9th patrol:; 13 – 19 December 1944;
Victories:	None

German submarine U-737 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 14 February 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 30 January 1943 with Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Poeschel in command.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-737 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-737 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 was attacked twice by aircraft while on active service. Once early in 1944, by a RAF British Liberator aircraft. She managed to damage the plane with anti-aircraft fire, which had to abort the attack and was forced to make a belly landing because of damage sustained. In later 1944, the U-boat was attacked by a Soviet plane, three crew were injured, before she dived.

Wolfpacks

U-737 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

Monsun (4 – 22 October 1943)
Isegrim (16 – 27 January 1944)
Werwolf (27 January – 9 February 1944)
Taifun (5 – 7 March 1944)
Trutz (2 – 6 June 1944)
Feuer (17 – 19 September 1944)
Grimm (24 September – 2 October 1944)
Panther (16 – 23 October 1944)

Fate

While on active duty under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-August Greus, U-737 sank at 00:18 on 19 December 1944 in the Vestfjorden, in position 68°09′N 15°39′E / 68.150°N 15.650°E / 68.150; 15.650. She had collided with German depot ship, MRS 25. 31 crew died, with 20 survivors.

References

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-737". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Eric; 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.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-737". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gunther Pfeffer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.