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German submarine U-1018

Coordinates: 49°55′N 5°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367
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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1018
Ordered23 March 1942
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number218
Laid down16 April 1943
Launched1 March 1944
Commissioned24 April 1944
FateSunk on 27 February 1945 in the English Channel south of Penzance by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Loch Fada. 51 dead and 2 survivors.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
  • Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement44-52 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 22 623
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ulrich Faber
  • 24 April – 1 June 1944
  • Kptlt. Walter Burmeister
  • 2 June 1944 – 27 February 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 21 January – 27 February 1945
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(1,317 GRT)

German submarine U-1018 was a German Type VIIC/41 U-boat, built during World War II for service in the Battle of the Atlantic. The U-boat was fitted with the Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus which enabled her to stay under-water for extended periods thus avoiding detection by enemy warships.[1]

Design

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German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1018 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).[2]

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).[2] 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-1018 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 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

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She was completed in Hamburg in April 1944, and spent the rest of 1944 training with the 31st U-boat Flotilla. An accident took place during U-1018's work-up period in the Baltic on 17 June which killed one crew member (Obersteuermann Walter Nellsen) and wounded two.[3] In December 1944, she was moved from Kiel to Horten Naval Base in Norway to join 11th U-boat Flotilla, before departing on 21 January 1945 to patrol the Western Approaches of the English Channel under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walter Burmeister.[4]

Combat role

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On 27 February 1945 she attacked convoy BTC 81 about seven miles from Lizard Point, Cornwall (at 49°55′N 05°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367).[5] U-1018 launched a torpedo which hit the Norwegian freighter Corvus which sank within a few minutes,[6] resulting in the death of five of the freighter's Norwegian crew, a 16-year-old British cabin boy, Thomas Boniface, and two British Royal Navy gunners, (part of the DEMS gun crew) including former professional footballer Charlie Sillett.[7]

The convoy escort ships immediately launched heavy counter-attacks. Less than two hours later, U-1018 was sunk by depth charges dropped by HMS Loch Fada under the command of Cdr. Benjamin Andrew Rogers, RD, RNR. Only two members of the crew of 53 survived.[3]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[8]
27 February 1945 Corvus  Norway 1,317 Sunk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Schnorchel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-1018". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-1018". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  5. ^ "Today in History: February 27". seawaves.com. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  6. ^ "DS Corvus – Final Fate". warsailors.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  7. ^ "DS Corvus – crew list". warsailors.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1018". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 February 2014.

Bibliography

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  • 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). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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49°55′N 5°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367