History
Nazi Germany
NameU-705
Ordered9 October 1939[1]
BuilderHC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number764
Laid down11 October 1940[1]
Launched13 October 1941[1]
Commissioned30 December 1941[1]
FateSunk on 3 September 1942 [1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 46 975
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 1 August – 3 September 1942[1]
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(3,279 GRT)

German submarine U-705 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Commissioned on 30 December 1941, she served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla until 31 July 1942 as a training boat, and as a front boat of 6th U-boat Flotilla under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Horst Horn, until her sinking on 3 September 1942.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-705 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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).[2]

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).[2] 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-705 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

Departing on her first and only patrol on 1 August 1942, U-705 left Kiel to encircle the British Isles and turn back after crossing more than half of the Atlantic. On 15 August while cruising some 550 nautical miles (1,020 km) south-east of Iceland, she caught sight of a number of vessels; Convoy SC 95, and the merchant ship Balladier.

Diving after first being seen, she stayed submerged for nearly four hours before firing a torpedo at the starboard side of the Balladier. Listing to the starboard side, the armed guards were unable to return fire on U-705, with the ship sinking after seven minutes.[3]

On 24 August, the Norwegian corvette HNoMS Potentilla and HMS Viscount of convoy ON 122 located U-705. Dropping five depth charges from the Viscount, along with a further ten from the Potentilla, the two were unable to cause damage to the boat. A further fifty-seven charges were dropped at her and U-135, finally damaging her stern torpedo tube.

Fate

On 3 September 1942, Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys of No. 77 Squadron RAF dropped depth charges at U-705, causing her to sink with all hands lost in the Bay of Biscay.[4]

Wolfpacks

U-705 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

  • Lohs (11 – 26 August 1942)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[5]
15 August 1942 Balladier  United States 3,279 Sunk

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-705". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Balladier article". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  4. ↑ Blair, Clay (1996). The Hunters 1939–1942. Vol. 1. Random House. p. 662&663. ISBN 0-394-58839-8. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-705". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

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