German submarine U-714 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-714
Ordered	7 December 1940
Builder	HC Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number	780
Laid down	29 December 1941
Launched	13 November 1942
Commissioned	10 February 1943
Fate	Sunk 14 March 1945 near Eyemouth, Firth of Forth. 50 dead.
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 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 10 February – 31 July 1943 - Training 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1943 – 10 November 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 11 November 1944 – 14 March 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Schwebcke 10 February 1943 – 14 March 1945
Operations:	1st patrol: 13 October – 2 December 1943 2nd patrol: 11–15 January 1944 3rd patrol: 6–15 June 1944 4th patrol: 27 August – 20 October 1944 5th patrol: 23–28 October 1944 6th patrol: 3–14 March 1945
Victories:	1 ship sunk 1 auxiliary ship sunk

The German submarine U-714 was a special kind of submarine called a Type VIIC U-boat. It was built for Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II.

U-714 was started on 29 December 1941 by a company called H. C. Stülcken Sohn in Hamburg, Germany. It was officially ready for service on 10 February 1943. Throughout its time in the war, it was commanded by Hans-Joachim Schwebcke.

What was U-714 like?

U-714 was a Type VIIC submarine, which was a common type of U-boat. When it was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 769 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed a bit more, around 871 tonnes.

This submarine was about 67.10 meters (220 feet) long overall. Its main strong part, called the pressure hull, was about 50.50 meters (165 feet) long. The widest part of the submarine, its beam, was about 6.20 meters (20 feet). It stood about 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall.

How did it move?

U-714 used two different ways to move. When it was on the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it a top speed of about 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h or 20.4 mph).

When it was underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel silently at a top speed of about 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h or 8.7 mph). It could travel about 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km) on the surface at a slower speed. Underwater, it could go about 80 nautical miles (150 km) at a slow speed.

The submarine could dive to a depth of about 230 meters (750 feet). Its deepest safe depth, called its crush depth, was between 250 and 295 meters (820 to 968 feet).

What weapons did it have?

U-714 was armed with several weapons to attack enemy ships.

• It had five torpedo tubes, which are like large cannons that fire torpedoes. Four were at the front and one was at the back.
• It carried 14 torpedoes in total.
• It also had one 8.8 cm deck gun on its main deck, with 220 rounds of ammunition.
• For defense against airplanes, it had two twin 2 cm anti-aircraft guns.

The submarine usually had a crew of between 44 and 60 people.

The end of U-714

U-714 was sunk on 14 March 1945. This happened near Eyemouth in the Firth of Forth, which is a body of water in Scotland.

It was attacked by depth charges from a South African frigate ship called HMSAS Natal. Another British ship, Wivern|D66|6, also helped in the attack. All 50 crew members on board U-714 died when it sank.

In 2008, the wreck of U-714 was made a "protected place." This means it is a special site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. It is important to protect such sites as they are war graves.

What were wolfpacks?

U-714 was part of several "wolfpacks" during the war. A wolfpack was a group of U-boats that worked together to hunt and attack enemy ships, especially convoys (groups of merchant ships traveling together). This tactic was used to overwhelm the defenses of the convoy.

U-714 took part in these wolfpacks:

• Körner (30 October – 2 November 1943)
• Tirpitz 1 (2–8 November 1943)
• Eisenhart 2 (9–15 November 1943)
• Schill 3 (18–22 November 1943)
• Weddigen (22–30 November 1943)
• Igel 1 (3–17 February 1944)

Ships sunk by U-714

U-714 sank two ships during its time in service.

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
10 March 1945	HNoMS Nordhav II	Royal Norwegian Navy	425	Sunk
14 March 1945	Magne	Sweden	1,226	Sunk