German submarine U-1168

German submarine U-1168 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

U-1168 Complement - Officers and Enlisted Men.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-1168
Ordered	2 April 1942
Builder	Danziger Werft AG, Danzig
Yard number	140
Laid down	16 March 1943
Launched	2 October 1943
Commissioned	19 January 1944
Fate	Scuttled on 4 May 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 or 26 × TMA or TMB Naval mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 19 January 1944 – 7 February 1945 5th U-boat Flotilla 8 February – 4 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 49 689
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Martin Grasse[1] 19 January – July 1944 Kptlt. Hans Umlauf[2] July 1944 – 4 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

She was ordered on 2 April 1942, and was laid down on 16 March 1943, at Danziger Werft AG, Danzig, as yard number 140. She was launched on 2 October 1943, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Martin Grasse on 19 January 1944.^[3]

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1168 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 SSW GU 343/38-8 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).^[4]

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-1168 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA or TMB Naval mines, 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 fifty-two.^[4]

Service history

On 4 May 1945, U-1168 was scuttled after running aground off Holnis in the Flensburg Fjord, at 54°53′N 09°37′E. The wreck was later broken up.^[3]

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Martin Grasse". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Umlauf". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1168". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
4. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.

Bibliography

• 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.