German submarine U-720 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-720 |
| Ordered | 25 August 1941 |
| Builder | H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 786 |
| Laid down | 17 August 1942 |
| Launched | 5 June 1943 |
| Commissioned | 17 September 1943 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement |
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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) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 54 671 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
The German submarine U-720 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.
Construction of U-720 began on 17 August 1942 at the H. C. Stülcken Sohn shipyard in Hamburg. It was launched into the water on 5 June 1943. The submarine was officially ready for service on 17 September 1943. Its first commander was a naval officer named Wolf-Harald Schüer.
Contents
About the U-boat's Design
U-720 was a Type VIIC U-boat, which was a common type of German submarine during World War II. These submarines were designed to be very effective underwater.
Size and Weight
When U-720 was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 769 tonnes (757 long tons). When it was fully underwater, it weighed more, around 871 tonnes (857 long tons).
The submarine was quite long, measuring about 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) from end to end. Its main strong part, called the pressure hull, was about 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) long. The widest part of the submarine was 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), and it stood about 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) tall. The part of the submarine that sat below the water's surface, called the draught, was 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) deep.
How it Moved
U-720 used two different types of engines to move. When it was on the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it enough power to travel at a top speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph).
When the submarine went underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to move quietly below the surface at a maximum speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).
The submarine could travel a long way without needing to refuel. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Underwater, it could travel about 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).
How Deep it Could Go
U-720 was built to dive deep. It could safely operate at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). If it went too deep, it risked being crushed by the water pressure. Its absolute deepest point before breaking apart, known as its crush depth, was between 250–295 m (820–968 ft).
Crew and Weapons
The submarine usually had a crew of between 44 and 60 people, including officers and sailors.
For defense and attack, U-720 was equipped with:
- Five torpedo tubes: four at the front (bow) and one at the back (stern).
- It could carry 14 torpedoes or 26 mines.
- One 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun with 220 rounds. This gun was used when the submarine was on the surface.
- Two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes.
U-720's Final Journey
U-720 was surrendered on 5 May 1945, near the end of World War II. It was later sunk on 21 December 1945 as part of an operation called Operation Deadlight. During this operation, many captured German U-boats were sunk to prevent them from being used again.
U-720 was sunk by artillery fire from several Allied warships, including the Polish ship ORP Piorun and British ships HMS Onslaught, HMS Zetland, and HMS Fowey. It sank in the Atlantic Ocean at the coordinates 56°4′N 9°35′W / 56.067°N 9.583°W.
