German submarine U-901 facts for kids
U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-901.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-901 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Stettiner Maschinenbau AG, Stettin |
| Yard number | 14 |
| Laid down | 1 January 1942 |
| Launched | 9 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 29 April 1944 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 15 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 5 January 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-901 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was ordered on 10 April 1941, and was laid down on 1 January 1942 at Stettiner Maschinenbau AG, Stettin, as yard number 14. She was launched on 9 October 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Schrenk on 29 April 1944.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-901 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 SSW GU 343/38-8 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-901 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.
Service history
U-901 participated in one war patrol that yielded no ships sunk or damaged.
On 15 May 1945, U-901 surrendered at Stavanger, Norway. She was later transferred to Lisahally, on 27 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-901 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-901 was towed out and sank on 5 January 1946 by unknown causes.
The wreck now lies at 55°50′N 08°30′W / 55.833°N 8.500°W.
