German submarine U-1004 facts for kids
U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1004.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-1004 |
| Ordered | 14 October 1941 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss AG, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 204 |
| Laid down | 15 January 1943 |
| Launched | 27 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 16 December 1943 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics (VIIC/41) | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC/41 submarine |
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| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 44-52 officers & ratings |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: |
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The German submarine U-1004 was a special type of U-boat built for Nazi Germany's navy, called the Kriegsmarine, during World War II. It was a Type VIIC/41 submarine, known for its strong design. The U-1004 was built in Hamburg and officially started service on 16 December 1943. Its first commander was Hartmuth Schimmelpfennig.
Contents
About the U-1004
The U-1004 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat, a common kind of submarine used by Germany in World War II. These submarines were designed to be tough and could dive deep.
Size and Weight
When the U-1004 was on the surface, it weighed about 759 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed more, around 860 tonnes. It was about 67.23 meters (220 feet) long, which is longer than two basketball courts! The widest part of the submarine was 6.20 meters (20 feet).
How it Moved
The submarine had two ways to move. On the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it a top speed of 17.7 knots (about 32.8 kilometers per hour). When it was underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at 7.6 knots (about 14.1 kilometers per hour).
How Far it Could Go
The U-1004 could travel a long way. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 kilometers) at a steady speed. Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) before needing to surface or recharge.
How Deep it Could Dive
This submarine was built to withstand a lot of pressure. It could safely operate at a depth of 230 meters (750 feet). Its design allowed it to go even deeper, up to 295 meters (968 feet), before the pressure became too much.
Weapons and Crew
The U-1004 was well-armed. It had five torpedo tubes, four at the front and one at the back. It carried 14 torpedoes. For fighting on the surface or against aircraft, it had several guns:
- One 8.8 cm (3.5 inch) deck gun.
- One 3.7 cm (1.5 inch) anti-aircraft (AA) gun.
- Two 2 cm (0.8 inch) AA guns.
The submarine usually had a crew of 44 to 52 sailors and officers.
Service History
The U-1004's journey began on 16 December 1943. It first joined the 31st U-boat Flotilla, which was a training group. This helped the crew learn how to operate the submarine.
After training, it moved to active service. From 1 August 1944, it was part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla. Then, on 1 November 1944, it joined the 11th U-boat Flotilla.
The U-1004 went on two main patrols during the war. During these patrols, it successfully sank two enemy ships.
End of Service
When World War II ended, the U-1004 surrendered on 9 May 1945 in Bergen, Norway. Many German U-boats that survived the war were later sunk by the Allied forces in an operation called Operation Deadlight. The U-1004 was sunk by naval gunfire on 1 December 1945 in the North Atlantic as part of this operation.
Ships Sunk by U-1004
This table shows the ships that U-1004 sank during its patrols:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
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| 22 February 1945 | Alexander Kennedy |  United Kingdom |
1,313 | Sunk |
| 22 February 1945 | HMCS Trentonian |  Royal Canadian Navy |
980 | Sunk |
See also
