German submarine U-741


German submarine U-741 was a Type VIIC U-boat built by F Schichau GmbH of Danzig and commissioned on 10 April 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-741 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-741 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

On 5 July 1944, U-741 departed Brest under the protection of 4 Vorpostenboot escort trawlers. Escort Group 12, Royal Canadian Navy, detected the German force on radar and intercepted it, engaging in the vicinity of the Pierres Noires lighthouse in the late evening. U-741 managed to escape, but one of the German escorts was sunk.
On 15 August 1944, she attacked convoy FTM-69 and torpedoed the Royal Navy Tank Landing ship, 35 miles South East of St. Catherine's Point causing extensive damage and seven fatalities. Although the vessel was beached, she later broke in two and was declared a total loss. Convoy escorts counter-attacked; the corvette is credited with the destruction of U-741. Orchis rescued one survivor.
The wreck was identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney in 2000 near the position given by the Allies.
In five patrols U-741 accounted for the total loss of one warship, for a total of 1,625 tons.

Wolfpacks

U-741 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
  • Coronel 1
  • Sylt
  • Rügen 2
  • Rügen 1
  • Rügen
  • Preussen