German submarine ''U-995'' is a German Type VII submarine#Type VIIC.2F41, Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' and the only one of its class still in existence. She was Keel laying, laid down on 25 November 1942 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany, and Ship commissioning, commissioned on 16 September 1943 with ''Oberleutnant zur See'' Walter Köhntopp in command. She is preserved at Laboe Naval Memorial near Kiel.

Design

German Type VII submarine#Type VIIC/41, German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier German Type VII submarine#Type VIIC, Type VIIC submarines. ''U-995'' had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam (nautical), beam of , a height of , and a draught (ship), draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 Motor–generator, double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to . The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . ''U-995'' was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, and three anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a Ship's company, complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Armament

FLAK weaponry

''U-995'' was mounted with a single 3.7 cm Flak M42 gun on the LM 42U mount. The LM 42U mount was the most common mount used with the 3.7 cm Flak M42U. The 3.7 cm Flak M42U was the marine version of the 3.7 cm Flak and was also used by the Kriegsmarine on other Type VII and Type IX U-boats. File:3.7cm Flak M42 LM42U.png, A single 3.7 cm Flak M42U gun on the LM 42U mount. Additionally, the boat was armed with a pair of twin 2 cm Flak 30, Flak 38 and Flakvierling 38#2,0cmmFlakvierling 38, Flak 38 20mm "Flakzwilling" mounts immediately adjacent to the 37mm gun mount.

Sonar

Passive sonar

''U-995'' was fitted with a Royal Norwegian Navy design ''Balkongerät'' sometime during the 1960s and then removed sometime between 4 November 1971 and 13 March 1972.Wetzel, Eckard. ''U-995''. Motorbuch Verlag; Erw. N.-A. edition (1 November 2004). . File:UBOAT1308_1.png, An exterior view of a ''U-995'' ''Balkongerät''This drawing is based foremost on the internal framing of the Type VIIC and photographs of ''U-995''s. Its dimensions and attachment points are based principally on the external framing of the Type VIIC. File:UBOAT1308_2.png, An interior view of a ''U-995'' ''Balkongerät''

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla, 5th Flotilla on 16 September 1943, followed by active service on 1 June 1944 as part of the 13th U-boat Flotilla, 13th Flotilla. She later transferred to 14th U-boat Flotilla, 14th Flotilla on 1 March 1945.

Wolfpacks

''U-995'' took part in five Wolfpack (naval tactic), wolfpacks, namely: * Dachs (1 – 5 September 1944) * Zorn (26 September – 1 October 1944) * Panther (16 October – 10 November 1944) * Stier (11 December 1944 – 6 January 1945) * Hagen (17 – 21 March 1945)

Fate

At the end of the war, on 8 May 1945, ''U-995'' was stricken at Trondheim, Norway. She was surrendered to the British on 9 DecemberBlair, p. 819. and then transferred to Norwegian ownership in October 1948. On 1 December 1952 ''U-995'' became the Norwegian submarine ''Kaura'' (Norwegian K-class submarine, Norwegian K class) and in 1965 she was stricken from service by the Royal Norwegian Navy. She then was offered to the West German government for the ceremonial price of one Deutsche Mark. The offer was refused; however, the boat was saved by the German Navy League, DMB. ''U-995'' became a museum ship at Laboe Naval Memorial in October 1971.

Summary of raiding history

Gallery

File:U995 Torpedorohre.png, ''U-995'' forward torpedo tubes File:U995 Zentrale.png, ''U-995'' control room File:U995 Turm.png, ''U-995'' hatches File:U995 Dieselmotorenraum.png, ''U-995'' diesel engine room File:U995 E-Maschinenraum.png, ''U-995'' electric motor compartment File:U995 Hecktorpedoraum.png, ''U-995'' aft torpedo compartment File:U-995.png, Turret logo of ''U-995''

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

*Clay Blair : ''Hitler's U-Boat War'' Vol II (1998). * * *

External links

Documentary about U995
* {{DEFAULTSORT:U0995 German Type VIIC/41 submarines U-boats commissioned in 1943 World War II submarines of Germany Norwegian K-class submarines Museum ships in Germany Museums in Schleswig-Holstein 1943 ships Ships built in Hamburg