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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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German Submarine U-1208

German submarine U-1208 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 30 June 1943 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1578, launched on 13 January 1944 and commissioned on 6 April 1944 under Korvettenkapitän Georg Hagene.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-1208 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-1208 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 6 April 1944, followed by active service on 1 January 1945 as part of the 11th Flotilla for the remainder of her short service.

In one patrol she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 1,644 gross register tons (GRT).

Wolfpacks

U-1208 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate

U-1208 was sunk on 24 February 1945 in the English Channel in position 49°51′N 06°06′W / 49.850°N 6.100°W / 49.850; -6.100, by depth charges from Royal Navy frigates HMS Duckworth and HMS Rowley. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate
24 February 1945 Oriskany  United Kingdom 1,644 Sunk

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-1208". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  2. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1208". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 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). 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.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). Ships hit by U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.