U 1003
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U 1003 ( previous / next - all submarines ) |
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| Type : | VII C |
| Field Post Number : | M 54 077 |
| Shipyard: | Blohm & Voss in Hamburg |
| Construction contract: | October 14, 1941 |
| Keel laying: | January 18, 1943 |
| Launch: | October 27, 1943 |
| Commissioning: | December 9, 1943 |
| Commanders: |
Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserve Werner Strübing |
| Flotilla: |
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| Calls: | 2 patrols |
| Sinkings: |
no |
| Whereabouts: | sunk on March 23, 1945 off the north coast of Ireland |
U 1003 was a German type VII C submarine , a so-called "Atlantic boat ". It was used by the Kriegsmarine during the submarine war in the North Atlantic.
Technical specifications
A Type VII C-boat, driven by two diesel engines, reached a speed of 17 knots when traveling above water , had a maximum range of 6500 nm and could make 7.8 knots under water with the help of the two electric motors, with a maximum range of 80 nm .
Snorkel boat
Like many boats of its time, the U 1003 was equipped with a snorkel: a ventilation hose that was suspended from a fold-out mast and had a float at the top that kept the snorkel exit above water. The snorkel ensured the removal of diesel gases as well as the supply of fresh air to enable longer underwater journeys. Despite this concept, the snorkel was considered unpopular with officers and crews. Even with moderate swell, the snorkel could get under the water surface. As a result, the air pressure in the boat changed and the crew suffered damage to their eardrum and eyes. On the one hand, if the boat was undercut too deeply, there was a risk that the diesel engines would stall; on the other hand, the exhaust gas could escape from the engine's intake ducts, which were located inside the boat, which caused the carbon monoxide load to steadily increase. Publications by the High Command of the Navy from autumn 1944 pointed to further dangers of snorkeling. It was found that some impairments only appeared a few hours after completing a snorkel dive. Crew members had reported dizzy spells following the re-ventilation of the boat. In some cases the men only managed to open the tower hatch with the greatest effort, and bridge guards who had stepped out collapsed while they were in the fresh air half an hour after the start of the watch.
commander
- December 9, 1943 to March 23, 1945 Werner Strübing
Werner Strübing was born on May 25, 1907 in Glückstadt . He completed his submarine training in the summer of 1943. Following the commanding course with the 24th U-Flotilla in Memel , Werner Strübing went as an extra-planned WO on UD 4 . In August 1944 he was promoted to lieutenant at sea . Since commissioning of U in 1003 , he held the command. In the self-initiated sinking of the severely damaged boat, Commander Werner Strübing was killed on March 23, 1945 together with 15 crew members.
Commitment and history
U 1003 initially drove as a training boat with the 31st U-Flotilla and was assigned to the 11th U-Flotilla as a front boat on September 1, 1944 .
Relocation trip - U 1003 leaves Kiel on September 19, 1944 and arrives in Horten on September 22, 1944.
Relocation trip - U 1003 leaves Horten on September 27, 1944 and arrives in Marviken on September 28, 1944.
Feindfahrt - U 1003 leaves Marviken on October 11, 1944 and arrives in Stavanger on December 16 after 67 days.
Relocation trip - U 1003 leaves Stavanger on January 10, 1945 and arrives in Bergen on January 11.
Feindfahrt - U 1003 leaves Bergen on February 19, 1945 and sunk itself on March 23, 1945.
Sinking
The Canadian frigate HMCS New Glasgow sighted the snorkel of U 1003 on the port side of the ship and then prepared for a depth charge. HMCS New Glasgow itself was damaged when the submarine collided with the frigate directly below the bridge and called for reinforcements. This was followed by a huge submarine hunt for hours with 14 allied ships (Escort Group C-4, Support Group 25 and Support Group 26). The commander managed to escape with the badly damaged submarine and lay it on the seabed for repairs. By the serious harm the team but was forced to the boat on 23 March 1945, the Irish north coast, eight to ten miles north of the lighthouse Inistrahull (Malin Head), even to sink 55 ° 25 ' N , 6 ° 53' W . Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Werner Strübing and 15 crew members died. 33 crew members were fished up by the HMCS Thetford Mines , but two more died and were buried at sea.
Notes and individual references
- ↑ U. Gabler: Unterseebotbau. 4th, revised and expanded edition. 1997, p. 78.
literature
- Clay Blair : The Submarine War. Volume 2: The Hunted, 1942–1945. Heyne, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-453-16059-2 .
- Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 1: The German submarine commanders. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 1996, ISBN 3-8132-0490-1 .
- Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 2: U-boat construction in German shipyards. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 1997, ISBN 3-8132-0512-6 .
- Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 4: German submarine losses from September 1939 to May 1945. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 1999, ISBN 3-8132-0514-2 .
- Ulrich Gabler : Submarine construction. 4th, revised and expanded edition. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn 1997, ISBN 3-7637-5958-1 .
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