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German submarine U-720 facts for kids

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History
Nazi Germany
Name U-720
Ordered 25 August 1941
Builder H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number 786
Laid down 17 August 1942
Launched 5 June 1943
Commissioned 17 September 1943
Fate Surrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 t (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) (o/a)
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) (pressure hull)
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Height 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
  • 5 × torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:
  • 21st U-boat Flotilla
  • 17 September 1943 – 28 February 1945
  • 31st U-boat Flotilla
  • 1 March – 5 May 1945
Identification codes: M 54 671
Commanders:
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Wolf-Harald Schüer
  • 17 September 1943 – 31 March 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Boldt
  • 1 April – 22 November 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Erhard Wendelberger
  • 23 November 1944 – 5 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-720 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 17 August 1942 at the H. C. Stülcken Sohn yard at Hamburg, launched on 5 June 1943, and commissioned on 17 September 1943 under the command of Leutnant zur See Wolf-Harald Schüer.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-720 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-720 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

U-720 was surrendered on 5 May 1945, sank on 21 December 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight by artillery fire from ORP Piorun, HMS Onslaught, HMS Zetland, and HMS Fowey in position 56°4′N 9°35′W / 56.067°N 9.583°W / 56.067; -9.583.

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