German submarine U-170

German submarine U-170 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 21 May 1941 by the Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG in Bremen as yard number 709. She was launched on 6 June 1942 and commissioned on 19 January 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Günther Pfeffer in command.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-170
Ordered: 15 August 1940
Builder: DeSchiMAG, Bremen
Yard number: 709
Laid down: 21 May 1940
Launched: 6 June 1942
Commissioned: 19 January 1943
Fate: Sunk, 30 November 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight
General characteristics
Class and type: Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a
  • 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Installed power:
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Range:
  • 13,850 nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Complement: 4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament:
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Gunther Pfeffer
  • 19 January 1943 – July 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Gerold Hauber
  • July 1944 – 8 May 1945

The U-boat's service began with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla. She then moved to the 10th flotilla on 1 June 1943 for operations. She was reassigned to the 33rd flotilla on 1 November 1944.

Design

German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-170 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-170 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[2]

Service history

1st patrol

U-170's first patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 27 May 1943. Her route took her the long way around the British Isles to the Atlantic Ocean west of the Azores. She had passed through the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She arrived at Lorient in occupied France on 9 July.[3]

2nd patrol

Her second sortie was to the Brazilian coast. Here she sank the Campos (4,663 tons) on 23 October 1943,[4] 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) south of Alcatazes Island.

3rd patrol

The boat's third foray was to the US east coast. She departed Lorient on 9 February 1944 and returned to the same port on 27 May.

4th patrol

Her last patrol was to the waters off west Africa. On the return voyage to Germany, she was attacked by unidentified destroyers west of southern Ireland on 30 October 1944 and badly damaged. She also reported a damaged Schnorchel (underwater breathing device), on 5 November and docked in Norway for repairs. She arrived at Flensburg on 4 December.

Fate

U-170 surrendered in Horten Naval Base, Norway on 9 May[5] 1945, and was transferred to Loch Ryan in Scotland. She was sunk on 30 November 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[4]
23 October 1943 Campos  Brazil 4,663 Sunk

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-170 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  2. Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-170". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-170". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-170". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-170". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 170". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
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