Name U-245 Yard number 679 Commissioned 18 December 1943 Launched 25 November 1943 Draft 4.74 m | Ordered 10 April 1941 Laid down 10 November 1942 Construction started 10 November 1942 Length 67 m Beam 6.18 m | |
Fate Surrendered at Bergen, sunk December 1945 north of Northern Ireland Builder Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft Part of 5th U-boat Flotilla, 33rd U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-245 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 10 November 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 679, launched on 25 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December under the command of Korvettenkapitän Friederich Schumann-Hindenberg.
Contents
In three patrols, she sank three ships of 17,087 GRT.
She surrendered to the Allies in May 1945.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-245 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-245 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 sixty.
Service history
After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-245 was transferred to the 3rd flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 33rd flotilla on 1 October.
1st patrol
The boat's first patrol was preceded by a short trip between Kiel and Horten Naval Base in Norway. Her first sortie began with her departure from Horten on 14 August 1944. She passed into the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The boat was attacked by a Catalina flying boat on 30 September. No casualties or damage was sustained.
2nd patrol
U-245 sank Henry B. Plant about 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi) east of Ramsgate on 5 February 1945.
3rd patrol
She also sank Filleigh and Karmt, both on 18 April and both about 10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) east southeast of North Foreland in Kent.
The boat surrendered at Bergen on 9 May 1945 and was transferred to Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk on 7 December.