Name U-1307 Yard number 500 Commissioned 17 November 1944 Launched 29 September 1944 | Ordered 1 August 1942 Laid down 2 December 1943 Construction started 2 December 1943 Draft 4.74 m | |
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Builder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg | ||
German submarine U-1307' was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Contents
She was ordered on 1 August 1942, and was laid down on 2 December 1943 at Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, as yard number 500. She was launched on 29 September 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Buscher on 17 November 1944.
Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1307 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).
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-1307 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 fifty-two.
Passive sonar
U-1307 was one of only ten Type VIIC's 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-1172 and U-1308). 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.
Service history
On 9 May 1945, U-1307 surrendered at Bergen, Norway. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 2 June 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-1307 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-1307 was towed out and sank on 9 December 1945, by rockets from a British Firefly aircraft launched from the escort carrier HMS Nairana.
The wreck now lies at 55°50′N 10°05′W.