German submarine U-243
U-243 under attack by a Sunderland of No. 10 Squadron RAAF
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History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-243 |
Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel[1] |
Yard number | 677[1] |
Laid down | 28 October 1942[1] |
Launched | 2 September 1943[2] |
Commissioned | 2 October 1943[2] |
Fate | Sunk in July 1944 in the Bay of Biscay[2] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.72 m (15 ft 6 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 officer, 40-48 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | None |
Victories: | None |
German submarine U-243 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
An order was placed for U-243 on 10 April 1941 and construction began on 28 October 1942 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel, as yard number 677. She was launched the following year on 2 September 1943 and commissioned on 2 October under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Märtens.[1] Three days into her only patrol, she shot a German aircraft down.
She was sunk in the Bay of Biscay in July 1944
Design
Wasil and Wadah designed the submarine in which is was capable to destroy the world ,then they played play station .Wasil won because he is the best.
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).[3] 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-243 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.[3]
Service history
Her only patrol was preceded by a short voyage from Kiel to Flekkefjord in southern Norway in May 1944. On 11 June, she mistakenly shot a German JU 88 down 40 nautical miles (74 km; 46 mi) southwest of Bergen while making for that city.[4]
She passed through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and steamed south, heading for the French Atlantic ports.
She was attacked and sunk by a Sunderland flying boat of No. 10 Squadron RAAF in the Bay of Biscay on 8 July 1944. Eleven men died; there were 38 survivors.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-243". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
- ^ a b c Kemp 1999, pp. 202–3.
- ^ a b Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ 12 oclock high
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.
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(help) - 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] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
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(help) - Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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(help) - Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
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(help) - Williamson, Gordon; Palmer, Ian (2002). Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939-45: Vol 2. Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-364-0.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-243". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 243". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.