German submarine U-714
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-714 |
Ordered: | 7 December 1940 |
Builder: | HC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg |
Yard number: | 780 |
Laid down: | 29 December 1941 |
Launched: | 13 November 1942 |
Commissioned: | 10 February 1943 |
Fate: | Sunk 14 March 1945 near Eyemouth, Firth of Forth. 50 dead. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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Propulsion: |
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Test depth: |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
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German submarine U-714 was a Type VIIC U-boat Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. She was laid down on 29 December 1941 by H. C. Stülcken Sohn at Hamburg and commissioned on 10 February 1943. She was commanded throughout her career by Hans-Joachim Schwebcke.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-714 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-714 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]
Fate
She was sunk 14 March 1945 near Eyemouth in the Firth of Forth at position Coordinates: 55°57′N 01°57′W / 55.950°N 1.950°W by depth charges from the South African frigate HMSAS Natal. HMS Wivern was granted a share of the credit for this kill as well. She had a complement of 50 crew, and when she sank, all of her crew died. She was designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 in 2008.
Wolfpacks
U-714 took part in six wolfpacks, namely.
- Körner (30 October – 2 November 1943)
- Tirpitz 1 (2–8 November 1943)
- Eisenhart 2 (9–15 November 1943)
- Schill 3 (18–22 November 1943)
- Weddigen (22–30 November 1943)
- Igel 1 (3–17 February 1944)
Summary of raiding history
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[2] |
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10 March 1945 | HNoMS Nordhav II | Royal Norwegian Navy | 425 | Sunk |
14 March 1945 | Magne | Sweden | 1,226 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-714". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 10 February 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). 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. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Innes McCartney (2002). Lost Patrols: Submarine Wrecks of the English Channel.
External links
- Images of U714 on Periscope Publishing website
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-714". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 714". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- SI 2008/0950 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986