German submarine U-64 (1939)

Construction and design

Construction

U-64 was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 16 July 1937 as part of Plan Z and in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Her keel was laid down on 15 December 1938 by AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 952. She was launched on 20 September 1939 and commissioned on 16 December under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Schulz.

Design

Type IXB submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IX submarines, later designated IXA. U-64 had a displacement of 1051 t when at the surface and 1178 t while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.50 m, a pressure hull length of 58.75 m, a beam of 6.76 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.70 m. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4400 PS for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1000 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.2 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 64 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 12000 nmi at 10 kn. U-64 was fitted with six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.

Service history

U-64 went to sea on 6 April 1940. For eight days, she roamed the North Sea in search of Allied convoys heading to Norway in support of the campaign centred around that country. During that time she encountered no enemy vessels. On 13 April, the eighth day of her first patrol, she was hove-to in Herjangsfjord in Norway, around 50 yards from the shore; the crew were repairing a minor problem with the submarine's periscope.

However a strong British force was approaching the area. This consisted of the battleship and nine destroyers. Their intention was to attack a group of eight German destroyers that were nearby - this action would later be known as the Second Battle of Narvik.

Just before the battle, a Fairey Swordfish float-plane was launched from Warspite, with the crew ordered to reconnoitre for German ships and to bomb any targets of opportunity. The aircraft was carrying two 250 lb high explosive bombs, two 100 lb anti-submarine bombs and eight 40 lb anti-personnel bombs. After spotting and reporting several of the German destroyers, the crew spotted the U-64 and decided to attack. They dived down to 200 ft and dropped their anti-submarine bombs. One was a near-miss, but one bomb hit just behind the submarine's conning-tower. Anti-aircraft fire from the U-boat caused minor damage to the aircraft.

The U-boat sank to the bottom of the fjord. Eight crew went down with her but 38 escaped. They were picked up by German mountain troops stationed ashore and would later form the crew of .{{cite web |access-date=31 May 2010

The wreck of the U-64 was raised in August 1957 and moved to Sandnessjøen in Norway, where it was scrapped.

References

Bibliography

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References

1. Dickens, Peter. (1974). "Narvik : battles in the fjords". Naval Institute Press.
2. "U-64".