German submarine U-1203 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-1203 |
| Ordered | 14 October 1941 |
| Builder | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
| Yard number | 1573 |
| Laid down | 15 May 1943 |
| Launched | 9 December 1943 |
| Commissioned | 10 February 1944 |
| Fate |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
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| Victories: | 1 auxiliary warship sunk (580 GRT) |
German submarine U-1203 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 May 1943 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1573, launched on 9 December 1943 and commissioned on 10 February 1944 under Oberleutnant zur See Erich Steinbrink.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-1203 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-1203 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th Flotilla on 10 February 1944, followed by active service on 1 December 1944 as part of the 11th Flotilla.
Wolfpacks
U-1203 took part in no wolfpacks.
Fate
U-1203 surrendered on 9 May 1945 in Trondheim. She was initially transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 29 May 1945, and sunk on 8 December 1945 at 55°50′N 10°05′W / 55.833°N 10.083°W as part of Operation Deadlight.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 February 1945 | HMY Ellesmere |  Royal Navy |
580 | Sunk |
