German submarine U-1272

German submarine U-1272 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1272.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-1272
Ordered	23 March 1942
Builder	Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number	67
Laid down	31 May 1943
Launched	23 December 1943
Commissioned	28 January 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 10 May 1945 Sunk on 8 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight
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) 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 28 January 1944 – 28 February 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 49 841
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Bernhard Meentzen[1] 29 January – 2 July 1944 Oblt.z.S. Hans Schatteburg[2] 3 July 1944 – 10 May 1945
Operations:	1 patrol: 29 April – 10 May 1945
Victories:	None

She was ordered on 23 March 1942, and was laid down on 31 May 1943, at Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack, as yard number 67. She was launched on 23 December 1943, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Bernhard Meentzen on 28 January 1944.^[3]

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1272 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).^[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-1272 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), 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 10 May 1945, U-1272 surrendered at Bergen, Norway, after only one war patrol, which resulted in no ship damaged or sunk. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 30 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-1272 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-1272 was towed out and sank on 8 December 1945.^[3]

The wreck now lies at 55°50′N 10°05′W.^[3]

Gallery

• 
  U 1272, 1944
• 
  U 1272, 1944
• 
  U 1272, 1943
• 
  U 1272 1943
• 
  On board U 1272
• 
  OLt. B. Meentzen, Kptl. OttoLemberg, Hans Ipsen
• 
  Oberleutnant Bernd Meentzen
• 
  Oblt. Bernd Meentzen 1944
• 
  Cabin U 1272
• 
  Kommando U 1272 1944

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Bernhard Meentzen". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Schatteburg". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1272". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 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). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.