German submarine U-764

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-764
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderKriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number147
Laid down1 February 1941
Launched13 March 1943
Commissioned6 May 1943
FateSurrendered on 14 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll, Scotland. She was later sunk, as part of Operation Deadlight in position 56°06′N 09°00′W / 56.100°N 9.000°W / 56.100; -9.000, on 2 February 1946.
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
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)
Complement4officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 51 834
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hanskurt von Bremen
  • 6 May 1943 – 14 May 1945
Operations:
  • 8 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 26 October – 11 December 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 17 January – 15 March 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 26 – 28 April 1944
  • b. 18 – 28 May 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 6 – 23 June 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 6 August – 19 September 1944
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 26 December 1944 – 4 February 1945
  • b. 15 – 18 March 1945
  • 7th patrol:
  • 19 – 23 March 1945
  • 8th patrol:
  • 26 April – 14 May 1945
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk
    (638 GRT)
  • 2 warships sunk
    (1,696 tons)

German submarine U-764 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 February 1941 by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven as yard number 147, launched on 13 March 1943 and commissioned on 6 May 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hanskurt von Bremen.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-764 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 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).[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-764 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.[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 6 May 1943, followed by active service on 1 November 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla in Brest, France. On 1 October 1944, she transferred to 11th Flotilla in Bergen, Norway; as the situation worsened in France following the invasion. She remained with 11th Flotilla until her surrender at the end of the war.

In eight patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 638 gross register tons (GRT), and 2 warships (1,696 tons).

Wolfpacks

U-764 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

  • Eisenhart 3 (9 – 15 November 1943)
  • Schill 3 (18 – 22 November 1943)
  • Weddigen (22 – 29 November 1943)
  • Hinein (26 January – 3 February 1944)
  • Igel 1 (3 – 17 February 1944)
  • Hai 1 (17 – 22 February 1944)
  • Preussen (22 February – 13 March 1944)
  • Dragoner (21 – 28 May 1944)

Fate

U-764 surrendered on 14 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll, Scotland. She was sunk as a target in position 56°06′N 09°00′W / 56.100°N 9.000°W / 56.100; -9.000 as part of Operation Deadlight on 2 February 1946.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
15 June 1944 HMS Blackwood  Royal Navy 1,085 Sunk
20 August 1944 Coral  United Kingdom 638 Sunk
25 August 1944 HMS LCT-1074  Royal Navy 611 Sunk

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-764". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-764". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 10 September 2014.

Bibliography

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-764". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 764". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 29 December 2014.