German submarine U-707

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-706
Operator:	Kriegsmarine
Ordered:	9 October 1939
Builder:	H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number:	771
Launched:	18 December 1941
Commissioned:	1 July 1942
Fate:	Sunk on 9 November 1943 off the Azores at
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) 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 × supercharged Germania-Werft 6 cylinder, four-stroke F46 diesel engines 2 × double-acting electric motors
Propulsion:	2 × shafts 2 × 1.23 m (4 ft 0 in) propellers
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 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Test depth:	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	44–60 officers & ratings
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns

German submarine U-707 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Ordered 6 August 1940, she was laid down 2 January 1941 and launched 18 December 1941. She had a relatively brief career from 1 July 1942 to 9 November 1943, and during this time she was commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Günther Gretschel.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-707 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), a 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-707 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 sixty.

Patrol History

During her career, U-707 sunk two ships, for a total tonnage of 11,811 GRT, namely the US freighter Jonathan Sturges, a straggler of convoy ON 166, and the British freighter North Britain also a straggler of convoy ONS 5.

She participated in nine wolfpacks, namely,

• Haudegen (26 January – 2 February 1943)
• Nordsturm (2–9 February 1943)
• Haudegen (9–15 February 1943) rejoined
• Taifun (15–20 February 1943)
• Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
• Fink (4–6 May 1943)
• Naab (12–15 May 1943)
• Donau 2 (15–26 May 1943)
• Schill (25 October – 9 November 1943)

Fate

While on patrol east of the Azores, she was depth charged and sunk on 9 November 1943 from a RAF Fortress aircraft, from Sqdn. 220/J R.A.F, at position . She was lost with all hands; 51 dead.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
24 February 1943	Jonathan Sturges	United States	7,176	Sunk
5 May 1943	North Britain	United Kingdom	4,635	Sunk