German submarine U-271


German submarine U-271 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 October 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 36, launched on 29 July 1942 and commissioned on 23 September under the command of Kapitänleutnant Curt Barleben. After training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, U-271 was transferred to the 1st U-boat Flotilla, for front-line service from 1 June 1943.
U-271 sank no ships in her short career. She was a member of two wolfpacks.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-271 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-271 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

First patrol

The boat's initial foray started and finished in Lorient in occupied France. It was relatively uneventful.

Second patrol

It was a different story on her second patrol. While serving as a 'Flak' boat, U-271 was attacked by two TBM Avengers from the on 21 October 1943. One man died.
She was also attacked by a B-24 Liberator on 24 June south southeast of Cape Finisterre. The aircraft was shot down. The submarine sustained some damage.

Third patrol and loss

U-271 set off from Brest for the last time on 12 January 1944. On the 28th she was attacked and sunk west of Limerick in Ireland by a US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator of VB-103.
Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-271 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
  • Rügen
  • Hinein