Profile drawing for Type VII C

Design and service

The Type VII C story

With over 650 boats built, the Type VII was the most important submarine in the German Kriegsmarine. Built between 1936 and 1944 those boats mainly operated in the North Atlantic, and were known for the so called "Rudeltaktik" - a simultaneous night attack of several surfaces U-Boats on allied convoys. Besides torpedo attacks they could also be used for mine laying and were well known for their maneuverability and fast diving speed. Shortly after the introduction of the first model a improved version with a better maneuverability (Type VIIB) was built. The most built variant was the Type VIIC whose variant Type VIIC/41 was made of thicker steel to increase the diving depth. Other variants include the mine laying Type VIID and the torpedo supply variant Type VIIF. Today, one of those boats, U995, is on display in Laboe, Germany.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament, machinery and performance.

Dimensions

Displacement
769 t (871 submerged)
Length
66,60 m
Beam
6,20 m
Diving depth
280 m

Propulsion and endurance

Power
2800-3200 hp (diesel), 750 hp (battery)
Speed
17,7 kn (7,6 kn submerged)
Range
8500 miles at 10 kn (130 miles at 2 kn submerged)

Armament

Torpedo tubes
4 x bow 53,3 cm torpedo tubes; 1 x stern 53,3 torpedo tube
Payload
14 torpedoes or 39 mines
Deck armament
1 x 8,8 cm, 1 x 3,7 cm, 2 x 2 cm

The archive

Photographs

UBoot Typ VII
UBoot Typ VII

The archive

Models