German submarine U-970

German submarine U-970 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 29 May 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 170. She was launched on 11 February 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Heinrich Ketels on 25 March 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-970 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-970 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

On 8 June 1944, U-970 was sunk by depth charges west of Bordeaux, France, in the Bay of Biscay at 0135 hrs. U-970 was attacked by a British Sunderland of 228 Squadron/R RAF. Fourteen of the crew of fifty-two survived.
The wreck is located at.