German submarine U-1020

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1020.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-1020
Ordered	13 June 1942
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	220
Laid down	30 April 1943
Launched	22 March 1944
Commissioned	17 May 1944
Fate	Sunk on or after 9 January 1945
General characteristics
Type	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement	757 long tons (769 t) surfaced 857 long tons (871 t) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2 × diesel engines 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 × electric motors 2 × screws
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	250 m (820 ft) Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	44-52 officers & ratings
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 × TMA or TMB Naval mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 17 May – 13 November 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 14 November 1944 – 9 January 1945
Identification codes:	M 22 946
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Otto Eberlein[1] 17 May 1944 – 9 January 1945
Operations:	1 patrol: 22 November 1944 – 9 January 1945
Victories:	None

German submarine U-1020 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 13 June 1942, and was laid down on 30 April 1943, at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 220. She was launched on 22 March 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Otto Eberlein on 17 May 1944.^[2]

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1020 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), an overall 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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).^[3]

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-1020 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 or TMB Naval 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 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and fifty-two.^[3]

Service history

U-1020 had a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus fitted out sometime before June 1944.^[2]

On 22 November 1944, U-1020 left Horten on her first, and only, war patrol. Forty-nine days into her patrol, 9 January 1945, U-1020 struck a British mine east of Dundee in the North Sea. All 52 of her crew went down with the boat.^[2]

The wreck now lies at 56°32′7″N 01°18′7″W.^[2]

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Otto Eberlein". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1020". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
3. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.

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]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-1020". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.