German submarine U-1306 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
 U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1306.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-1306 |
| Ordered | 1 August 1942 |
| Builder | Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg |
| Yard number | 499 |
| Laid down | 23 September 1943 |
| Launched | 25 October 1944 |
| Commissioned | 20 December 1944 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 5 May 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Type VIIC/41 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 | 44-52 officers & ratings |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 49 039 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
She was ordered on 1 August 1942, and was laid down on 23 September 1943, at Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, as yard number 499. She was launched on 25 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ulrich Kiessling on 20 December 1944.[2]
Design
editGerman Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1306 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), an overall 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 460/8-276 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).[3]
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-1306 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 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and fifty-two.[3]
Armament
editFLAK weaponry
editU-1306 was mounted with two 2cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield on the upper Wintergarten.[4] The M 43U mount was used on a number of U-boats (U-190, U-250, U-278, U-337, U-475, U-853, U-1023, U-1058, U-1109 and U-1165).
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2 cm Flak C38 in a M 43U Zwilling mount with short folding shield.
Sensors
editPassive sonar
editU-1306 was one of only ten Type VIICs to be fitted with a Balkongerät (literally 'Balcony apparatus or equipment'). The Balkongerät was used on U-boats (U-682, U-788, U-799, U-977, U-997, U-1021, U-1105, U-1307 and U-1308).[4] The Balkongerät was standard on the Type XXI and the Type XXIII. Nonetheless, it was also fitted to several Type IXs and one Type X. The Balkongerät was an improved version of Gruppenhorchgerät (GHG) (group listening device). The GHG had 24 hydrophones, the Balkongerät had 48 hydrophones and improved electronics, which enabled more accurate readings to be taken.[5]
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The outside view of the German design of Balcongerät installed on Type VIICs
Service history
editU-1306 was scuttled in Gelting Bay near Gelting on 5 May 1945 as part of Operation Regenbogen. Her wreck was raised and broken up later.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ulrich Kiessling". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1306". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ a b Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b Base on war-time photographs.
- ^ "Hydrophones". U-boats Aces - uboataces.com. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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). 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). 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.