1. Design

2. Service history

3. Summary of raiding history

4. References

5. Bibliography

6. External links

German submarine U-7 was a Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, based out of Kiel during World War II. It was one of the smaller versions, and was first launched on 29 June 1935 with a crew of 29. Its first commander was Kurt Freiwald. U-7 would have 16 commanders over the course of its service, the last being Günther Loeschcke.

During the war U-7 was responsible for sinking two vessels.

On 18 February 1944, west of Pillau, U-7 sank in what is believed to have been a malfunction during a diving manoeuvre. There were no survivors.{{sfn|Kemp|1997|p=170}}

Design

German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-7 had a displacement of {{convert|279|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|328|t|LT}} while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was {{convert|250|LT|t|abbr=on}}, however.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|42.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|28.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|4.08|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|8.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|3.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of {{convert|700|PS|kW shp|-1}} for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|460|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|0.85|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|80|-|150|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|12|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|35|-|42|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|3800|nmi}} at {{convert|8|kn}}. U-7 was fitted with three {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of twentyfive.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=39–40}}

Service history

U-7 was ordered on 20 July 1934, i.e. in violation of the Versailles Treaty, which denied Germany possession of submarines. The U-boat was not laid down until 11 March 1935, and launched on 29 June 1935, within weeks of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, which granted Germany parity with the British Empire in submarines.

Commissioned on 18 July 1935 with Kapitänleutnant Kurt Freiwald in command, U-7 mainly served as a training boat except for two brief deployments during the Invasion of Poland in 1939 and Operation Weserübung in 1940.

On 18 February 1944, west of Pillau, U-7 sank in what is believed to have been a malfunction during a diving manoeuvre. There were no survivors.{{sfn|Kemp|1997|p=170}}

Summary of raiding history

References

Bibliography

• {{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 | ref = harv}}
• {{cite book

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External links

• {{Cite web

• {{cite web

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