German submarine U-1273

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1273.
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-1273
Ordered:	23 March 1942
Builder:	Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number:	68
Laid down:	7 June 1943
Launched:	10 January 1944
Commissioned:	16 February 1944
Fate:	Sunk on 17 February 1945
General characteristics
Type:	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement:	757 long tons (769 t) surfaced 857 long tons (871 t) 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 × diesel engines 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 × electric motors 2 × screws
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:	250 m (820 ft) Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	44-52 officers & ratings
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla (Training) 16 February 1944 – 31 January 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla (Active service) 1 February 1945 – 17 February 1945
Commanders:	Lt.z.S. Karl-Heinz Voswinkel 16 February 1944 – 6 July 1944 Kptlt. Helmut Knollmann 7 July 1944 – 17 February 1945
Operations:	1 patrol
Victories:	None

German submarine U-1273 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 23 March 1942, and was laid down on 7 June 1943 at Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack, as yard number 68. She was launched on 10 January 1944 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Voswinkel on 16 February 1944.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1273 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), an overall 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 460/8-276 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-1273 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 fifty-two.

Service history

On 17 February 1945, U-1273 struck a British air-laid mine off Horten in the Skagerrak in Oslofjord. Kapitänleutnant Helmut Knollmann and 42 other crewmen died out of a crew of 51.

The wreck now lies at .

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic