German submarine U-310

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-310
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderFlender Werke, Lübeck
Yard number310
Laid down30 January 1942
Launched3 January 1943
Commissioned24 February 1943
FateSurrendered on 9 May 1945, broken up in March 1947
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
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[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 50 199
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Klaus Friedland
  • 24 February – 26 September 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Ley
  • 27 September 1943 – 8 May 1945
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 13 – 21 September 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 25 September – 3 October 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 14 October – 11 November 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 22 November – 14 December 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 25 December 1944 – 5 January 1945
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 13 February – 30 March 1945
  • b. 3 – 7 April 1945
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(14,395 GRT)

German submarine U-310 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 30 January 1942 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 310, launched on 3 January 1943 and commissioned on 24 February under the command of Leutnant zur See Klaus Friedland.

During her career, the U-boat sailed on six combat patrols, sinking two ships, before she surrendered on 9 May 1945.[1]

She was a member of seven wolfpacks.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-310 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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).[3] 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-310 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in February 1943. She was then transferred to the 7th flotilla for operations on 1 August. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 5 September 1944.

The boat made two short journeys from Kiel in Germany to Marvika and Egersund in Norway, between June and August 1944.

First patrol

The submarine's first patrol began with her departure from Egersund (south of Stavanger), on 13 September 1944. She moved up the Norwegian coast, arriving in Narvik on the 21st.

Second patrol

The boat torpedoed the Edward H. Crockett on 29 September 1944. The wreck was finished off with gunfire from HMS Milne. She also sank the Samsuva in the same attack off the North Cape.

Third, fourth and fifth patrols

U-310's third sortie covered the Norwegian and Barents Seas.

In her fourth patrol, the U-boat rounded Bear Island and passed east of Murmansk.

Her fifth foray began in Harstad (northwest of Narvik), on 25 December 1944 and ended in Bogenbucht, (west of Narvik), on 5 January 1945.

Sixth patrol and fate

The U-boat's last patrol was relatively uneventful. She finished in Trondheim at war's end. There, she was broken up in March 1947.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[4]
29 September 1944 Edward H. Crockett  United States 7,176 Sunk
29 September 1944 Samsuva  United Kingdom 7,219 Sunk

References

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-310". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-310". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-310". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 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.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-310". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 310". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.