Name U-1020 Yard number 220 Commissioned 17 May 1944 Launched 22 March 1944 Draft 4.74 m Builder Blohm + Voss | Ordered 13 June 1942 Laid down 30 April 1943 Construction started 30 April 1943 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | |
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Fate Sunk on or after 9 January 1945 | ||
German submarine U-1020 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Contents
She was ordered on 13 June 1942, and was laid down on 30 April 1943 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 220. She was launched on 22 March 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Otto Eberlein on 17 May 1944.
Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1020 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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-1020 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA or TMB Naval mines, 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 fifty-two.
Service history
U-1020 had a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus fitted out sometime before June 1944.
On 22 November 1944, U-1020 left Horten on her first, and only, war patrol. Forty-nine days into her patrol, 9 January 1945, U-1020 struck a British mine east of Dundee in the North Sea. All 52 of her crew went down with the boat.
The wreck now lies at 56°32′7″N 01°18′7″W.