German submarine U 714

Updated on Nov 02, 2023

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Name U-714 Yard number 780 Commissioned 10 February 1943 Launched 13 November 1942 Draft 4.74 m		Ordered 7 December 1940 Laid down 29 December 1941 Construction started 29 December 1941 Length 67 m Beam 6.18 m

Builder HC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg Part of 5th U-boat Flotilla, 7th U-boat Flotilla, 33rd U-boat Flotilla

German submarine U-714 was a Type VIIC U-boat Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. She was laid down on 29 December 1941 by H. C. Stülcken Sohn at Hamburg and commissioned on 10 February 1943. She was commanded throughout her career by Hans-Joachim Schwebcke.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-714 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-714 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.

Fate

She was sunk 14 March 1945 near Eyemouth in the Firth of Forth at position by depth charges from the South African frigate HMSAS Natal. HMS Wivern was granted a share of the credit for this kill as well. She had a complement of 50 crew, and when she sank, all of her crew died. She was designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 in 2008.