German submarine U-778 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-778
Ordered	20 January 1941
Builder	Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number	161
Laid down	3 July 1943
Launched	6 May 1944
Commissioned	7 July 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945; scuttled as part of Operation Deadlight on 4 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
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) 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 7 July 1944 – 28 February 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Ralf Jürs 7 July 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	1 patrol: 4 – 26 March 1945
Victories:	None

The German submarine U-778 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. This submarine only went on one mission and didn't sink any ships belonging to the Allies. It was given up to the Allies in Bergen, Norway, on May 9, 1945.

Submarine Design and Features

The U-778 was a Type VIIC U-boat. These submarines were a common type used by Germany during the war. They were an improved version of earlier, slightly shorter submarines.

Size and Weight

When the U-778 was on the surface, it weighed about 769 tonnes (757 long tons). When it was underwater, it weighed more, about 871 tonnes (857 long tons).

• It was 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) long from end to end.
• The strong inner part of the submarine, called the pressure hull, was 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) long.
• The submarine was 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) wide and 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) tall.
• The part of the submarine that was underwater, called the draught, was 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) deep.

Engines and Speed

The U-778 had two different types of engines:

• For moving on the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines.
• For moving underwater, it used two electric motors.

These engines turned two large 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers.

The submarine could reach different speeds:

• On the surface, its top speed was 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) (knots).
• Underwater, its top speed was 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).

Travel Range

The U-778 could travel long distances:

• When on the surface, it could go about 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) (nautical miles) if it traveled at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
• When underwater, it could travel about 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at a slower speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).

Diving Depth

This submarine was built to go deep underwater:

• It could safely operate at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
• Its "crush depth," which is the deepest it could go before its hull might break, was between 250–295 m (820–968 ft).

Crew and Weapons

The U-778 needed a crew of about 44 to 60 people to operate it. It was armed with several weapons:

• Five torpedo tubes, which are tubes that launch torpedoes. Four were at the front and one at the back.
• It carried 14 torpedoes in total.
• One large 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun, with 220 rounds of ammunition.
• Anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes, including one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 guns.

Service History of U-778

The U-778 arrived in Horten, Norway, on February 28, 1945. Its commander was Oberleutnant zur See Ralf Jürs.

First and Only Patrol

The submarine began its only war patrol on March 4, 1945. This mission lasted for 23 days. It ended on March 26, 1945, when the U-778 returned to Bergen, Norway. During this patrol, the U-boat did not sink any ships.

Surrender and Sinking

The U-778 was still in Bergen when World War II ended in Europe. It surrendered to the Allies on May 9, 1945.

Later that year, on December 4, 1945, the British Royal Navy was towing the U-778 out to sea. The plan was to sink it as part of an operation called Operation Deadlight. However, the submarine sank earlier than planned. It went down before reaching the exact spot where it was supposed to be scuttled. This happened about 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) northeast of Malin Head, in water about 70 metres (230 ft) deep. The exact location was 55°32′N 7°7′W / 55.533°N 7.117°W / 55.533; -7.117.

Discovery and Salvage Plans

The sunken wreck of U-778 was found again in 2001 by a marine archaeologist named Innes McCartney.

Plans for a Museum Exhibit

In 2007, the Derry City Council announced exciting plans. They wanted to raise the U-778 from the seabed. Their idea was to make it the main exhibit in a new maritime museum. Many other U-boats from Operation Deadlight were destroyed by being shot at or bombed. However, the U-778 was still mostly in one piece and was in water that wasn't too deep. This made it a good candidate for salvage.

Project Cancellation

Sadly, on October 3, 2007, an Irish diver died while filming the wreck for the salvage project. In November 2009, the council announced that the project to raise the submarine had been canceled. The main reason for this decision was the high cost involved.

Related Submarines

• German submarine U-505
• German submarine U-534 - This U-boat was successfully salvaged in 1993.
• German submarine U-995