German submarine U-3503

German submarine U-3503 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the "Elektroboote") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 17 June 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1648. She was launched on 27 July 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hugo Deiring on 9 September 1944.[2]

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-3503
Ordered6 November 1943
BuilderF Schichau GmbH, Danzig
Yard number1648
Laid down17 June 1944
Launched27 July 1944
Commissioned9 September 1944
FateScuttled on 8 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeType XXI submarine
Displacement
  • 1,621 t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,819 t (1,790 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 60.50 m (198 ft 6 in) (p/h)
Beam
  • 8 m (26 ft 3 in) (o/a)
  • 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) (p/h)
Height11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Installed power
  • 4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) (diesel drive)
  • 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) (standard electric drive)
  • 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp) (silent electric drive)
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced:
  • 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) (diesel)
  • 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) (electric)
  • Submerged:
  • 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (electric)
  • 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) (silent running motors)
Range
  • 15,500 nmi (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth280 m (920 ft)
Complement57–60 crewmen
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations: None
Victories: None

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-3503 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).[3] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3] U-3503 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.[3]

Fate

U-3503 was scuttled on 8 May 1945, west of Gothenburg, Sweden, in the Kattegat, as part of Operation Regenbogen. The U-boat had earlier been attacked by allied B-24 Liberator planes. The wreck was raised in 1946 and broken up in Sweden (which first had asked to keep it) on demand of the Allied governments.[2][4]

Her crew was taken up by HSwMS Norrköping and interned at Backamo internment camp.[4]

The wreck was located at 57°39′N 11°44′E.

The sea and marine museum Sjöfartsmuseet in Gothenburg still has the original Kriegsmarine flag from the U-boat, exhibited on one of the museum floors.[4]

The closing track on Swedish musician Stefan Andersson's album Flygblad över Berlin is about the surrender of U-3503. The song is called "Den sista vargen" (The Last Wolf).

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hugo Deiring". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-3503". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  3. Gröner 1991, p. 85.
  4. U 3503 - Dokumentation. Lennart Lindberg. Marinlitteraturfören. 2002.

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]. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • 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.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-3503". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
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