Name U-765 Yard number 148 Commissioned 19 June 1943 Construction started 15 February 1941 Length 67 m Beam 6.18 m | Ordered 15 August 1940 Laid down 15 February 1941 Fate Sunk, 6 May 1944 Launched 22 April 1943 Draft 4.74 m | |
Builder Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven Part of Kriegsmarine, 8th U-boat Flotilla, 7th U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-765 was a German Type VII U-boat created for service in World War II. U-765 was notable for not suffering any casualties until the time of her sinking. The U-boat did not sink or damage any ships.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-765 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-765 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
U-765 was sunk on 6 May 1944 in the North Atlantic, in position 52°30′N 28°28′W, by depth charges from two Swordfish aircraft of 825 Naval Air Squadron from the British Escort Carrier HMS Vindex, operating alongside the British frigates Aylmer, Bligh and Bickerton. The attack left 37 dead and 11 survivors.