German submarine U-747

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-747
Ordered	25 August 1941
Builder	Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number	1557
Laid down	19 August 1942
Launched	13 May 1943
Commissioned	17 July 1943
Fate	Scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Hamburg-Finkenwerder
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × torpedoes; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 17 July – 8 September 1943; 24th U-boat Flotilla; 5 October 1943 – 1 April 1945; 31st U-boat Flotilla; 1 – 9 April 1945;
Identification codes:	M 55 433
Commanders:	T.V. Roberto Rigoli; 17 July – 8 September 1943; Oblt.z.S. Erich Jewinski; 5 October 1943 – May 1944; Oblt.z.S. Günter Zahnow; May 1944 – 9 April 1945;
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarine U-747 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 19 August 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 17 July 1943 with Tenente di vascello Roberto Rigoli in command.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-747 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[2] 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).^[2]

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).^[2] 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-747 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.^[2]

References

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-747". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

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.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-747". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2016.

[uboatnet-1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-747". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 October 2014.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-2] Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

[1]

[2]

v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1945
Shipwrecks	1 Apr: Awa Maru 2 Apr: CD-186, USS Dickerson, U-321 3 Apr: Brummer, USS S-16, U-1221, U-2542, U-3505, T111 4 Apr: USS Dickerson, U-237, U-749, U-3003 5 Apr: U-242, USS S-17 6 Apr: Amatsukaze, USS Bush, USS Colhoun, USS Leutze, USS Morris, USS Newcomb, USS Witter, SS Hobbs Victory, SS Logan Victory 7 Apr: Asashimo, Hamakaze, Isokaze, Isuzu, Kasumi, USS LST-447, Oldenburg, USS PGM-18, U-1195, Yahagi, Yamato 8 Apr: U-774, U-1001 9 Apr: Admiral Scheer, Ro-56, U-677, U-747, U-804, U-843, U-982, U-1065, U-2509, U-2514, U-3512, U-2516, Vale 10 Apr: U-878, Weser 12 Apr: USS Mannert L. Abele, Ro-64, U-486 13 Apr: Karlsruhe, U-1024 14 Apr: Belgian Airman, German submarine U-235, U-1206 15 Apr: U-103, U-285, U-1063, U-1235 16 Apr: HMCS Esquimalt, Lützow, USS Pringle, U-78, U-880, U-1274 17 Apr: Goya 19 Apr: Aquila, U-251, U-548, U-879 21 Apr: U-636 22 Apr: USS Swallow, U-518 23 Apr: USS Eagle Boat 56, U-183 24 Apr: USS Frederick C. Davis, U-108, U-546 25 Apr: Graf Zeppelin, Ro-109, TA 32, U-326 27 Apr: Canada Victory, TA 34 28 Apr: CH-17, U-56 29 Apr: I-44, U-56, U-286, U-307, U-1017 30 Apr: HMS Goodall, TA 43, U-879, U-1107 Unknown date: I-56, Ro-46, Ro-49, USS Snook, U-246, U-325, U-396, U-398, U-548, U-857, U-1055
Other incidents	2 Apr: USS Dickerson 5 Apr: USS Thornton 6 Apr: USS Defense, USS Emmons, USS Mullany, USS Rodman 8 Apr: USS Bullhead 9 Apr: USS Sea Devil 11 Apr: I-401 12 Apr: USS Lindsey, U-1024, USS Zellars 14 Apr: USS Sigsbee 15 Apr: HMS Ekins, USS Laffey 16 Apr: USS Bryant, Goya, USS Harding 19 Apr: USS Bullhead, USS Pogy, USS Tolman 27 Apr: HMS Redmill 28 Apr: Argo, USS Huron 29 Apr: USS Baya 30 Apr: U-3525
1944 1945 1946 March 1945 May 1945

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in May 1945
Shipwrecks	1 May: Argo, TA 43, U-3006, U-3009 2 May: Admiral Hipper, USS Thornton, U-8, U-14, U-60, U-61, U-62, U-71, U-72, U-120, U-121, U-137, U-139, U-140, U-141, U-142, U-146, U-148, U-151, U-152, U-316, U-552, U-554, U-612, U-717, U-929, U-1007, U-1308, U-2327, U-2359, U-2510, U-2526, U-2527, U-2528, U-2531, U-3002, U-3016, U-3018, U-3019, U-3020, U-3021, U-3504, U-3516, U-3517, U-3521, U-3522 3 May: Arcona, Cap Arcona, Deutschland, Emden, USS Lagarto, USS Little, USS LSM(R)-195, Medusa, Nordland, Schlesien, TA22, Thielbek, UA, UB, UD-1, UD-2, UD-3, UD-4, U-48, U-52, U-57, U-58, U-59, U-101, U-328, U-339, U-428, U-446, U-475, U-560, U-704, U-708, U-747, U-748, U-795, U-822, U-828, U-876, U-903, U-922, U-924, U-958, U-1166, U-1170, U-1192, U-1196, U-1201, U-1205, U-1210, U-1227, U-1275, U-2330, U-2332, U-2355, U-2371, U-2501, U-2503, U-2504, U-2508, U-2512, U-2519, U-2520, U-2521, U-2524, U-2533, U-2534, U-2535, U-2536, U-2539, U-2543, U-2545, U-2546, U-2548, U-2552, U-3001, U-3005, U-3010, U-3011, U-3012, U-3013, U-3014, U-3023, U-3024, U-3025, U-3026, U-3027, U-3028, U-3029, U-3031, U-3032, U-3037, U-3038, U-3039, U-3040, U-3507, U-3509, U-3511, U-3513, U-3518, U-3525, U-3530, U-4705, U-4712, Z43 4 May: USS LSM(R)-190, USS LSM(R)-194, USS Luce, USS Morrison, Orion, USS PGM-17, U-30, U-46, U-267, U-393, U-711, U-721, U-792, U-793, U-904, U-1132, U-1161, U-1168, U-1303, U-1304, U-2338, U-2540, U-3033, U-3034, U-4709, U-4711 5 May: T36, U-17, U-38, U-236, U-290, U-349, U-351, U-370, U-397, U-534, U-579, U-733, U-746, U-750, U-794, U-827, U-999, U-1008, U-1016, U-1025, U-1056, U-1162, U-1193, U-1204, U-1207, U-1223, U-1234, U-1306, U-1405, U-2333, U-2339, U-2343, U-2346, U-2347, U-2349, U-2352, U-2357, U-2358, U-2360, U-2362, U-2364, U-2366, U-2367, U-2368, U-2369, U-2507, U-2517, U-2522, U-2525, U-2541, U-2544, U-2551, U-3015, U-3022, U-3044, U-3501, U-3510, U-3524, U-3526, U-3527, U-3528, U-3529, U-4701, U-4702, U-4703, U-4704, U-4707, U-4710 6 May: U-853, U-881, U-3523 7 May: Avondale Park, Sneland I, U-1407 8 May: U-37, U-320, U-382, U-2365, U-2538, U-3030, U-3503 16 May: Haguro, Hatsutaka, U-287 18 May: USS Longshaw 20 May: U-963 24 May: HM Motor Gun Boat 2007, U-979 25 May: USS Bates, USS LSM-135 28 May: USS Drexler 29 May: Tenryo Maru 31 May: I-361, Uzbekistan
Other incidents	3 May: USS Aaron Ward 4 May: HMS Formidable, USS Sangamon 9 May: USS England, USS Oberrender 11 May: USS Bunker Hill, USS Evans, USS Hugh W. Hadley 19 May: Kashima, HMS Terrapin 20 May: USS Chase, USS Thatcher 25 May: USS Barry, USS Spectacle, William B. Allison 26 May: USS PC-1603 29 May: USS Shubrick 31 May: Hebrides Unknown date: Nymphe, U-1197
1944 1945 1946 April 1945 June 1945

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-747
Ordered	25 August 1941
Builder	Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number	1557
Laid down	19 August 1942
Launched	13 May 1943
Commissioned	17 July 1943
Fate	Scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Hamburg-Finkenwerder
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record^[1]
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 17 July – 8 September 1943 24th U-boat Flotilla 5 October 1943 – 1 April 1945 31st U-boat Flotilla 1 – 9 April 1945
Identification codes:	M 55 433
Commanders:	T.V. Roberto Rigoli 17 July – 8 September 1943 Oblt.z.S. Erich Jewinski 5 October 1943 – May 1944 Oblt.z.S. Günter Zahnow May 1944 – 9 April 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None