German submarine U-737

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-737
Ordered:	10 April 1941
Builder:	Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number:	1534
Laid down:	14 February 1942
Launched:	21 November 1942
Commissioned:	30 January 1943
Fate:	Sunk, 19 December 1944
General characteristics
Class & 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) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 30 January – 30 June 1943 - Training 13th U-boat Flotilla 1 July 1943 – 19 December 1944
Commanders:	Lt.z.S. Wolfgang Poeschel 30 January – 4 February 1943 Kptlt. Paul Brasack 5 February 1943 – 24 November 1944 Oblt.z.S. Friedrich-August Greus 25 November – 19 December 1944
Operations:	1st patrol: 8 August – 20 September 1943 2nd patrol: 4–23 October 1943 3rd patrol: 16 January – 10 February 1944 4th patrol: 1–8 March 1944 5th patrol: 13 May – 7 June 1944 6th patrol: 24 June – 9 July 1944 7th patrol: 24 September – 3 October 1944 8th patrol: 12–24 October 1944 9th patrol: 13–19 December 1944
Victories:	None

German submarine U-737 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 14 February 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 30 January 1943 with Leutnant zur See Wolfgang Poeschel in command.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-737 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-737 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, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The U-Boat conducted nine patrols

• 30 January to 30 June 1943 - 8th U-boat Flotilla (as part of training)
• 1 July 1943 to 19 December 1944 - 13th U-boat Flotilla (active service)

The boat was attacked twice by aircraft while on active service. Once early in 1944, by a RAF British Liberator aircraft. She managed to damage the plane with anti-aircraft fire, which had to abort the attack and was forced to make a belly landing because of damage sustained. In later 1944, the U-boat was attacked by a Soviet plane, three crew were injured, before she dived.

Fate

While on active duty under the command of Oblt.z.S. Friedrich-August Greus, U-737 sank at 00:50 on 19 December 1944 in the Vestfjorden, in position . She had collided with German depot ship, MRS 25. 31 crew died, with 20 survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-737 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely.

• Monsun (4–22 October 1943)
• Isegrim (16–27 January 1944)
• Werwolf (27 January – 9 February 1944)
• Taifun (5–7 March 1944)
• Trutz (2–6 June 1944)
• Feuer (17–19 September 1944)
• Grimm (24 September – 2 October 1944)
• Panther (16–23 October 1944)