German submarine U-701 facts for kids

Survivors are rescued from U-701.
Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-701
Ordered	9 October 1939
Builder	HC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number	760
Laid down	13 May 1940
Launched	16 April 1941
Commissioned	16 July 1941
In service	16 July 1941 to 7 July 1942
Fate	Sunk by a USAAF Hudson on 7 July 1942 about 22 miles off Cape Hatteras. Seven survivors including the Captain were taken as prisoners of war.
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) 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	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
U-701 (submarine) shipwreck and remains
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Nearest city	Buxton, North Carolina
MPS	World War II Shipwrecks along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico MPS
NRHP reference No.	15000806
Added to NRHP	12 November 2015

The German submarine U-701 was a special type of U-boat (a German submarine) called a Type VIIC. It was built for the German navy, known as the Kriegsmarine, during World War II. This submarine sailed in the North Atlantic.

U-701 was officially launched on 16 April 1941. Its first commander was Horst Degen, who was a Kapitänleutnant (a naval captain). The submarine usually had a crew of about 43 sailors.

During its three main missions, U-701 was very active. It sank five merchant ships, which are cargo ships, and damaged four others. It also sank four smaller military ships and damaged one destroyer.

Sadly, U-701 was destroyed in an air attack on 7 July 1942. Today, its remains rest about 115 feet (35 m) (35 meters) deep in the ocean.

The Final Mission of U-701

U-701 was sunk on 7 July 1942, near Cape Hatteras in the United States. While the submarine was on the surface of the water, it was attacked. An American plane, a Hudson from the USAAF, spotted it.

The plane dropped two bombs, hitting U-701 and causing it to sink. Out of its crew, 17 sailors managed to escape the sinking submarine. However, they were stranded in the open ocean for two days.

Eventually, the US Coast Guard found them. By that time, only 7 of the original 17 survivors were still alive. They were taken as prisoners of war.

Where U-701 Rests Today

Diving on the wreck of the U-701 in 2008.

The wreck of U-701 lies about 115 feet (35 m) (35 meters) below the ocean's surface. It is still mostly in one piece. You can even see its 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun.

Most of the broken pieces from the sinking are within 100 metres (330 ft) (328 feet) of the main wreck. Over time, this sunken submarine has become like an artificial reef. Many fish, especially amberjacks, now live around it.

A diver named Uwe Lovas first found the U-701 wreck in 1989. Its exact location was kept secret for 15 years. This helped keep the wreck untouched and in great condition. It offers a rare chance to explore a U-boat that is still mostly as it was when it sank.

Recently, the location of the wreck has become known to the public. This means more people can dive to see it. Many local divers are worried that too much activity might damage this important historical site. Because of its importance, the wreck was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

In 2011, a dive to the U-701 wreck was shown in a TV documentary. It was called Hitler's Secret Attack on America and came out in 2013.

Working Together: Wolfpacks

U-701 was part of special groups of submarines called wolfpacks. These were groups of U-boats that worked together to hunt enemy ships.

U-701 joined three different wolfpacks:

• Zieten (from 6 to 22 January 1942)
• Westwall (from 2 to 12 March 1942)
• York (from 12 to 26 March 1942)

Ships U-701 Attacked

Faroe postage stamp showing the trawler Nýggjaberg, which was sunk by U-701 on 28 March 1942

Here is a list of the ships that U-701 attacked during its missions:

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
6 January 1942	Baron Erskine	United Kingdom	3,657	Sunk
6 March 1942	Rononia	United Kingdom	213	Sunk
7 March 1942	Nyggjaberg	Faeroes	349	Sunk
9 March 1942	HMS Notts County	Royal Navy	541	Sunk
11 March 1942	HMS Stella Capella	Royal Navy	507	Sunk
15 June 1942	HMS Kingston Ceylonite	Royal Navy	448	Sunk (mine)
15 June 1942	USS Bainbridge	United States Navy	1,190	Damaged (mine)
15 June 1942	Robert C. Tuttle	United States	11,615	Damaged (mine)
15 June 1942	Esso Augusta	United States	11,237	Damaged (mine)
17 June 1942	Santore	United States	7,117	Sunk (mine)
19 June 1942	USS YP-389	United States Navy	170	Sunk
26 June 1942	Tamesis	Norway	7,256	Damaged
27 June 1942	British Freedom	United Kingdom	6,985	Damaged
28 June 1942	William Rockefeller	United States	14,054	Sunk
Total tonnage sunk =			27,056