German submarine U-775 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-775
Ordered	21 November 1940
Builder	Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number	158
Laid down	22 January 1943
Launched	11 February 1944
Commissioned	23 March 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 8 December 1945
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
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) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 23 March – 31 October 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1944 – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Erich Taschenmacher 23 March 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	2 patrols: 1st patrol: 18 November – 21 December 1944 2nd patrol: 7 February – 30 March 1945
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (1,926 GRT) 1 warship sunk (1,300 tons) 1 merchant ship damaged (6,991 GRT)

U-775 was a German submarine (also called a U-boat) used during World War II. It was a special type of submarine known as a Type VIIC. This U-boat was built for Nazi Germany's navy, called the Kriegsmarine.

The building of U-775 started on 22 January 1943. It was built by a company called Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven. The submarine was finished and launched into the water on 11 February 1944. It officially joined the navy on 23 March 1944, led by Commander Erich Taschenmacher.

About the U-775 Design

U-775 was a Type VIIC submarine. These submarines were an improved version of earlier Type VIIB models.

When U-775 was on the surface, it weighed about 769 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed more, around 871 tonnes. The submarine was about 67.10 meters (220 feet) long overall. Its main body, called the pressure hull, which keeps the water out, was 50.50 meters (165 feet) long.

The widest part of the submarine, called its beam, was 6.20 meters (20 feet) across. The part of the submarine that sat below the water, its draught, was 4.74 meters (15 feet) deep.

How U-775 Moved

The submarine had two different ways to move.

• When 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 or 20.5 miles per hour).
• When underwater, it used two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at a top speed of 7.6 knots (about 14.1 kilometers per hour or 8.7 miles per hour).

U-775 could travel a long way without needing to refuel.

• On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 kilometers or 9,780 miles) at a speed of 10 knots.
• Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers or 92 miles) at 4 knots.

The submarine could dive very deep. Its normal operating depth was 230 meters (755 feet). The deepest it could go before risking damage, called its crush depth, was between 250 and 295 meters (820 to 968 feet).

Weapons and Crew

U-775 was well-armed for its missions.

• It had five torpedo tubes, which are like underwater cannons that fire torpedoes. Four were at the front and one was at the back. It carried 14 torpedoes in total.
• For fighting on the surface, it had one 8.8 cm (3.5 inch) deck gun with 220 rounds of ammunition.
• To defend against airplanes, it had several anti-aircraft guns: one 3.7 cm (1.5 inch) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 inch) C/30 anti-aircraft guns.

The submarine usually had a crew of 44 to 60 people, including officers and enlisted sailors.

U-775 in Action

The U-775's journey began with training. From 23 March 1944 to 31 October 1944, it was part of the 31st U-boat Flotilla. This was a training group for new U-boats and their crews.

After training, on 1 November 1944, U-775 joined the 11th U-boat Flotilla. This group was involved in active fighting during the war.

During its time in active service, U-775 went on two patrols.

• Its first patrol was from 18 November to 21 December 1944.
• Its second patrol was from 7 February to 30 March 1945.

In these patrols, U-775 was successful in attacking enemy ships. It sank one merchant ship that weighed 1,926 gross register tons (GRT). It also sank one warship that weighed 1,300 tons. Additionally, it damaged another merchant ship that weighed 6,991 GRT.

No Wolfpack Operations

Some U-boats worked together in groups called "wolfpacks" to attack convoys of ships. However, U-775 did not take part in any wolfpack operations during its service.

The End of U-775

As World War II was ending, U-775 surrendered to the Allied forces. This happened on 9 May 1945 in Trondheim, Norway.

After the war, many German U-boats were sunk to prevent them from being used again. This operation was called Operation Deadlight. U-775 was sunk by gunfire on 8 December 1945 as part of this operation.

Ships Attacked by U-775

Here is a list of the ships that U-775 attacked during its patrols:

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
6 December 1944	HMS Bullen	Royal Navy	1,300	Sunk
28 February 1945	Soreldoc	United States	1,926	Sunk
6 March 1945	Empire Geraint	United Kingdom	6,991	Damaged