German submarine U-283
History | |
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Name | U-283 |
Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
Yard number | 48 |
Laid down | 10 June 1942 |
Launched | 17 February 1943 |
Commissioned | 31 March 1943 |
Fate | Sunk by a Canadian aircraft,11 February 1944, southwest of the Faroe Islands[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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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) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[2][3] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 50 857 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-283 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The submarine was laid down on 10 June 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 48. She was launched on 17 February 1943 and commissioned on 31 March under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz-Günther Scholz.[2]
Design
[edit]German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-283 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]
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).[4] 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-283 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.[4]
Service history
[edit]U-283 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from March 1943 to January 1944 and operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 February.[2] She carried out one patrol, sinking no ships. She was a member of two wolfpacks.
Patrol
[edit]The boat's only patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 13 January 1944.
Fate
[edit]She was sunk 11 February 1944 southwest of the Faroe Islands by a Canadian Leigh Light equipped Wellington of No. 407 Squadron RCAF.[1]
Forty-nine men died; there were no survivors.
Wolfpacks
[edit]U-283 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
- Stürmer (27 January – 3 February 1944)
- Igel 1 (3 – 11 February 1944)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kemp 1999, p. 169.
- ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-283". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-283". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
Bibliography
[edit]- 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, 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.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
[edit]- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-283". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 283". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.