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German submarine U-301

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox ship begin}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image=Image:SRH009-p58.jpg

|Ship caption=Cross-section of a Type VIIC U-boat.

}}

{{Infobox ship career

|Hide header=

|Ship country=Nazi Germany

|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}

|Ship name=U-301

|Ship ordered=6 August 1940

|Ship builder=Flender Werke, Lübeck

|Ship yard number=301

|Ship laid down=12 February 1941

|Ship launched=25 March 1942

|Ship commissioned=9 May 1942

|Ship homeport=

|Ship motto=

|Ship nickname=

|Ship fate=Sunk by {{HMS|Sahib|P212|6}}, 21 January 1943

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship class=Type VIIC submarine

|Ship displacement=

  • {{convert|769|t|LT|0|lk=on}} surfaced
  • {{convert|871|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged

|Ship length=

  • {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship beam=

  • {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draught={{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship power=

  • {{convert|2800|–|3200|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
  • {{convert|750|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (electric)

|Ship propulsion=

|Ship speed=

  • {{convert|17.7|kn}} surfaced
  • {{convert|7.6|kn}} submerged

|Ship range=

  • {{convert|8500|nmi|abbr=on|lk=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
  • {{convert|80|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged

|Ship test depth=

  • {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
  • Crush depth: {{convert|250|–|295|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|Ship complement=4 officers, 40–56 enlisted

|Ship sensors=

|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox service record

|is_ship=yes

|label=Service record

|partof=

|codes=M 44 381

|commanders=

  • Kptlt. Willy-Roderich Körner
  • 9 May 1942 – 21 January 1943

|operations=*3 patrols:

  • 1st patrol:
  • 1 October – 7 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 3 – 14 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 20 – 21 January 1943

|victories=None

}}

German submarine U-301 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 12 February 1941 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck, launched on 25 March 1942, and commissioned on 9 May 1942. During her short career the U-boat sailed on three combat patrols, without sinking or damaging any ships, before she was sunk on 21 January 1943 by a British submarine in the Mediterranean Sea.

Design and description

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. Type VIIC U-boats had a displacement of {{convert|769|t|LT}} on the surface and {{convert|871|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|Jung|Maass|1991|pp=43–46}} U-301 had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. U-301{{'}}s power was produced by two Germaniawerft F46 six-cylinder, four-stroke supercharged diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|2800 to 3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, and two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} total for use while submerged. The submarine had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. U-301 could submerge to up to {{convert|230|m}} underwater.{{sfn|Gröner|Jung|Maass|1991|pp=43–46}}

U-301 had a maximum speed of {{convert|17.7|kn}} while surfaced and a maximum speed of {{convert|7.6|kn}} when submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|Jung|Maass|1991|pp=43–46}} The submarine had a range of {{convert|80|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}} while underwater; on the surface, she could travel {{convert|8500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-301 was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four in the bow and one in the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun with 220 rounds, and a 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun. The submarine had a complement of between 44 and 60 men.{{sfn|Gröner|Jung|Maass|1991|pp=43–46}}

Construction and career

Ordered on 6 August 1940, U-301 was laid down on 12 February 1941 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck, Northern Germany. The submarine was launched on 25 March 1942,{{sfn|Fontenoy|2007|p=209}} and commissioned on 9 May 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Willy-Roderich Körner.{{sfn|Niestle|2014|p=XXVI}}{{Cite web|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u301.htm|title=The Type VIIC boat U-301|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net|access-date=9 April 2010}}{{Cite web|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u301.html|title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-301|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net|access-date=9 April 2010}}

Between 9 May 1942 and 30 September 1942, U-301 conducted training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla.{{sfn|Ross|Bishop|2016|p=117}}

=First patrol=

After completing her training, U-301 was transferred to the 1st U-boat Flotilla based at Brest in France, for front-line service on 1 October 1942. On that day, U-301 departed Kiel and sailed out into the Atlantic Ocean, operating as part of wolfpack 'Panther' from 11 to 16 October, 'Puma' from 16 to 26, and 'Südwärts' from 24 to 26. U-301 attempted to attack the US-bound convoy ON 139 along with several U-boats on 23 and 24 October, but their attacks were repelled by the escorting ships.{{sfn|Carruthers|2013|pp=124–125}} The submarine arrived in Brest on 7 November. U-301 did not sink any ship during this patrol.{{Cite web|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_4766.html|title=Patrol of U-boat U-301 from 1 Oct 1942 to 7 Nov 1942|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net|access-date=9 April 2010}}{{sfn|Ross|Bishop|2016|p=117}}

=Second patrol=

U-301 sailed from Brest on 3 December 1942, then passed through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea and on to the U-boat base at La Spezia in northern Italy, arriving on 14 December. The patrol was also unsuccessful.{{Cite web|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_4767.html|title=Patrol of U-boat U-301 from 3 Dec 1942 to 14 Dec 1942|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net|access-date=9 April 2010}}{{sfn|Ross|Bishop|2016|p=117}}

=Third patrol=

Transferred to the 29th U-boat Flotilla on 1 January 1943,{{sfn|Ross|Bishop|2016|p=117}} U-301 sailed on her third and final patrol on 20 January. The next day at 8:48 in the morning, U-301 was sunk west of Bonifacio, Corsica, in position {{coord|41|27|N|07|04|E|dim:400000|display=inline,title}}{{sfn|Heden|2006|p=301}} by torpedoes from the British submarine {{HMS|Sahib|P212|6}}.{{sfn|Niestle|2014|pp=167, XXVI}}{{sfn|Kemp|1999|p=100}}{{sfn|Ross|Bishop|2016|p=241}} According to Sahib{{'}}s log the U-boat was first spotted proceeding on the surface early that morning at a distance of {{Convert|4.5|mi}}. Sahib then closed to {{Convert|2.6|mi}} and into a more favourable position before firing a full salvo of six torpedoes at five second intervals. Three minutes later three explosions were heard, a large cloud of smoke was seen and it was noted that radio transmissions stopped. Sahib closed and recovered the only survivor from the 46 crew, 19-year-old Wilhelm Rahn.[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3431.html HMS Sahib], Uboat.net{{sfn|Niestle|2014|p=XXVI}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | date= 1999 | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis | isbn = 1-55750-186-6}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |title=Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |date=1999|volume=IV |publisher=Mittler|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXKwAAAAIAAJ |language=de}}
  • {{cite book|last=Carruthers|first=Bob|title=The U-Boat War in the Atlantic: Volume II: 1942-1943|year=2013|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-47384-663-0}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Gröner|first1=Erich|last2=Jung|first2=Dieter|last3=Maass|first3=Martin|translator-last1=Thomas|translator-first1=Keith|translator-last2=Magowan|translator-first2=Rachel|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels|date=1991|volume=2|series=German Warships 1815–1945|location=London|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=0-85177-593-4}}
  • {{cite book|first=Paul E. |last=Fontenoy|title=Submarines: An Illustrated History of Their Impact|publisher= ABC-CLIO Publishing|year=2007|isbn=978-1-85109-563-6}}
  • {{cite book|title=Sunken Ships, World War II: U.S. Naval Chronology Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy|first=Karl, Eric|last=Heden|publisher=Branden Books |location=History Reference Center|year=2006|isbn=0828321183}}
  • {{cite book|last=Kemp|first=Paul|title=U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars|location=London|year=1999|publisher=Arms & Armour|isbn=1-85409-515-3}}
  • {{cite book|last=Niestle|first=Alex|title=German U-Boat Losses During World War II: Details of Destruction|year=2014|publisher=Frontline Books|isbn=978-1-473838-29-1}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Ross|first1=David|last2=Bishop|first2=Chris|title=Submarines: WWI to the Present|year=2016|publisher=Book Sales|isbn=978-0-785834-46-5}}

{{Refend}}

External links

  • [http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-301INT.htm U-boat Archive: "U 301" Interrogation of Sole Survivor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024161631/http://uboatarchive.net/U-301INT.htm |date=24 October 2007 }}
  • {{Cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u301.html

|title=The Type VIIC boat U-301

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

|access-date=26 December 2014

}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20051030201214/http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=301 U-301 at ubootwaffe.net]
  • {{cite web

|url=http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0301.html

|title=U 301

|last=Hofmann

|first=Markus

|website=Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de

|language=de

|access-date=26 December 2014

}}

{{German Type VII submarines}}

{{January 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0301}}

Category:German Type VIIC submarines

Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942

Category:U-boats sunk in 1943

Category:World War II submarines of Germany

Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea

Category:U-boats sunk by British submarines

Category:1942 ships

Category:Ships built in Lübeck

Category:Maritime incidents in January 1943