The Type VII was the most numerous U-boat type to be involved in the Battle of the Atlantic. == Types == === Type VIIA === Type VIIA U-boats were designed in 1933–34 as the first series of a new generation of attack U-boats.
Usually carrying 11 torpedoes on board, they were very agile on the surface and mounted the quick-firing deck gun with about 220 rounds. Ten Type VIIA boats were built between 1935 and 1937.
When submerged it was propelled by two Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors, giving a total of at 322 rpm. === Type VIIB === The VIIA had limited fuel capacity, so 24 Type VIIB boats were built between 1936 and 1940 with an additional 33 tonnes of fuel in external saddle tanks, which added another of range at surfaced.
Usually carrying 11 torpedoes on board, they were very agile on the surface and mounted the quick-firing deck gun with about 220 rounds. Ten Type VIIA boats were built between 1935 and 1937.
When submerged it was propelled by two Brown, Boveri & Cie (BBC) GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors, giving a total of at 322 rpm. === Type VIIB === The VIIA had limited fuel capacity, so 24 Type VIIB boats were built between 1936 and 1940 with an additional 33 tonnes of fuel in external saddle tanks, which added another of range at surfaced.
When submerged, the boat was powered by two AEG GU 460/8-276 (except in U-45, U-46, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-54, U-73 to U-76, U-99 and U-100, which retained the BBC motor of the VIIA) electric motors, giving a total of at 295 rpm. === Type VIIC === The Type VIIC was the workhorse of the German U-boat force, with 568 commissioned from 1940 to 1945.
The first VIIC boat commissioned was the in 1940.
When submerged the boat used two AEG GU 460/8-276 electric motors giving a total of 750 shp (560 kW) at 285 rpm. Only one () managed to survive the war; the other five were sunk, killing all crew members. === Type VIIF === The Type VIIF boats were designed in 1941 as supply boats to rearm U-boats at sea once they had used up their torpedoes.
RP 137/c or Siemens-Schuckert-Werke (SSW) GU 343/38-8 electric motors with the same power output as the AEG motors. Perhaps the most famous VIIC boat was , featured in the movie Das Boot. ==== U-flak "Flak Traps" ==== The concept of the "U-flak" or "Flak Trap" originated the previous year, on 31 August 1942, when was seriously damaged by aircraft.
All of them from onwards lacked the fittings to handle mines. Today one Type VIIC/41 still exists: is on display at Laboe (north of Kiel), the only surviving Type VII in the world. === Type VIIC/42 === The Type VIIC/42 was designed in 1942 and 1943 to replace the aging Type VIIC.
The VIIC came into service toward the end of the "First Happy Time" near the beginning of the war and was still the most numerous type in service when Allied anti-submarine efforts finally defeated the U-boat campaign in late 1943 and 1944. Type VIIC differed from the VIIB only in the addition of an active sonar and a few minor mechanical improvements, making it 2 feet longer and 8 tons heavier.
Conversion began on three others (, , and ) but none was completed and they were eventually returned to duty as standard VIIC attack boats. The modified boats became operational in June 1943 and at first appeared to be successful against a surprised Royal Air Force.
In November 1943, less than six months after the experiment began, it was discontinued.
All of them from onwards lacked the fittings to handle mines. Today one Type VIIC/41 still exists: is on display at Laboe (north of Kiel), the only surviving Type VII in the world. === Type VIIC/42 === The Type VIIC/42 was designed in 1942 and 1943 to replace the aging Type VIIC.
The VIIC came into service toward the end of the "First Happy Time" near the beginning of the war and was still the most numerous type in service when Allied anti-submarine efforts finally defeated the U-boat campaign in late 1943 and 1944. Type VIIC differed from the VIIB only in the addition of an active sonar and a few minor mechanical improvements, making it 2 feet longer and 8 tons heavier.
Many of these boats were fitted with snorkels in 1944 and 1945. They had the same torpedo tube arrangement as their predecessors, except for , , , , and , which had only two bow tubes, and for , , , , , and , which had no stern tube. On the surface the boats (except for , and to which used MAN M6V40/46s) were propelled by two supercharged Germaniawerft, 6 cylinder, 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesels totaling at 470 to 490 rpm. For submerged propulsion, several different electric motors were used.
All but two Type VIIA U-boats were sunk during World War II (famous Otto Schuhart and , which was the first submarine to sink a ship in World War II, both scuttled in Kupfermühlen Bay on 4 May 1945). The boat was powered on the surface by two MAN AG, 6-cylinder, 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesel engines, giving a total of at 470 to 485 rpm.
When submerged, the boat was powered by two AEG GU 460/8-276 (except in U-45, U-46, U-49, U-51, U-52, U-54, U-73 to U-76, U-99 and U-100, which retained the BBC motor of the VIIA) electric motors, giving a total of at 295 rpm. === Type VIIC === The Type VIIC was the workhorse of the German U-boat force, with 568 commissioned from 1940 to 1945.
Many of these boats were fitted with snorkels in 1944 and 1945. They had the same torpedo tube arrangement as their predecessors, except for , , , , and , which had only two bow tubes, and for , , , , , and , which had no stern tube. On the surface the boats (except for , and to which used MAN M6V40/46s) were propelled by two supercharged Germaniawerft, 6 cylinder, 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesels totaling at 470 to 490 rpm. For submerged propulsion, several different electric motors were used.
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