German submarine U-3514

German submarine U-3514 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the "Elektroboote") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 21 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1659. She was launched on 21 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günther Fritze, on 9 December 1944.[3]

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-3514
Ordered: 6 November 1943
Builder: F Schichau GmbH, Danzig
Yard number: 1659
Laid down: 21 August 1944
Launched: 21 October 1944
Commissioned: 9 December 1944
Fate: Surrendered on 9 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and type: Type XXI submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,621 t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,819 t (1,790 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 60.50 m (198 ft 6 in) (p/h)
Beam:
  • 8 m (26 ft 3 in) (o/a)
  • 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) (p/h)
Height: 11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught: 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Installed power:
  • 4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) (diesel drive)
  • 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) (standard electric drive)
  • 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp) (silent electric drive)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • Surfaced:
  • 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) (diesel)
  • 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) (electric)
  • Submerged:
  • 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (electric)
  • 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) (silent running motors)
Range:
  • 15,500 nmi (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth: 280 m (920 ft)
Complement: 57–60 crewmen
Sensors and
processing systems:
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Fritze[1]
  • 9 December 1944 – 5 May 1945
  • Kptlt. Klaus Willeke[2]
  • 6 May 1945 – 9 May 1945
Operations: No patrols
Victories: None

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-3514 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam length of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught length of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).[4] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4] U-3514 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.[4]

Service history

On 9 May 1945, U-3514 surrendered at Bergen, Norway. She was transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 6 June 1945, arriving 8 June 1945.[3]

U-3514 was held at Lisahally until January 1946, when she was taken to Moville. She was being held up in reserve just in case one of the Type XXI that had been transferred to the Soviets after the war did not arrive intact. Then on 7 February 1946, she was ordered to be part of Operation Deadlight. Two days later, on 9 February, she left Moville to be towed to her scuttling area, arriving on the morning of 12 February. HMS Loch Arkaig began the scuttling process at 09:36 using her QF 4 in (100 mm) Mark V gun, "Squid" depth charges, and "Shark" shells,[5] fired from the four-inch gun. U-3514 sank at 10:04, becoming the last U-boat sunk during "Operation Deadlight".[3]

The wreck is at 56°00′N 10°05′W.

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Günther Fritze". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Klaus Willeke". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-3514". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  4. Gröner 1991, p. 85.
  5. "Britain ASW Weapons". Navweaps. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.

Sources
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-3514". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
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