German submarine U-771
Encyclopedia
German submarine U-771 was a Type VIIC U-boat
of the German
Kriegsmarine
during World War II
. She was ordered on 21 November 1940, and was laid down on 21 August 1942 at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven
, as 'werk 154'. She was launched on 26 September 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant
Helmut Block on 18 November of that year.
, occupied Norway. On 21 June, 1944, U-771 began her first war patrol, leaving the port city of Stavanger
(at which she had arrived from Bergen the day before). For a period of 25 days, U-771 roamed the North Sea
in search of Allied convoys. While she never made contact with any enemy vessels, on 26 June 1944, a British Consolidated Liberator
aircraft coded 'N' from No. 86 Squadron RAF
engaged the U-boat just north of the British Isles. U-771 managed to shoot down the Liberator and continue her patrol. This was the only time during the war that U-771 had any contact with the enemy prior to her sinking. On 15 July, U-771 returned to her U-boat base at Bergen.
, Kristiansand
, Bergen
, Bogenbucht, and Hammerfest
. During this time, U-771 was re-assigned to the 11th U-boat Flotilla on 1 August 1944; she remained a part of that flotilla until 30 September, when she was again re-assigned, this time to the 13th U-boat Flotilla. On 14 October 1944, U-771 finally left Hammerfest and headed into the Arctic Ocean
. Twenty-nine days after she left Hammerfest, on 11 November 1944, U-771 was sunk in the Andfjord near Harstad
, Norway
, by torpedoes fired by the British submarine HMS Venturer
. All 51 of her crewmembers were killed.
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
of the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was ordered on 21 November 1940, and was laid down on 21 August 1942 at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
, as 'werk 154'. She was launched on 26 September 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Helmut Block on 18 November of that year.
Service record
U-771 had a very short career. While she was commissioned on 18 November 1943, she was not assigned to any war flotillas until 1 June, 1944. She was in service for less than a year before being sunk on 11 November, 1944, after only two patrols at sea.First patrol
Following training exercises with the 31st U-boat Flotilla from 18 November, 1943, to 31 May, 1944, U-771 was assigned to the 9th U-boat Flotilla on 1 June, 1944, and was given the position as the lead boat in the flotilla. The next day, U-771 left the port city of Hatvik for BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, occupied Norway. On 21 June, 1944, U-771 began her first war patrol, leaving the port city of Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
(at which she had arrived from Bergen the day before). For a period of 25 days, U-771 roamed the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
in search of Allied convoys. While she never made contact with any enemy vessels, on 26 June 1944, a British Consolidated Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
aircraft coded 'N' from No. 86 Squadron RAF
No. 86 Squadron RAF
No. 86 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Attached to Coastal Command the unit flew reconnaissance and air-sea rescue missions, anti-shipping strikes, and anti-submarine patrols.-Formation:No...
engaged the U-boat just north of the British Isles. U-771 managed to shoot down the Liberator and continue her patrol. This was the only time during the war that U-771 had any contact with the enemy prior to her sinking. On 15 July, U-771 returned to her U-boat base at Bergen.
Second patrol
U-771 spent the next three months travelling to various Norwegian ports, including TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Bogenbucht, and Hammerfest
Hammerfest
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The municipality encompasses parts of three islands: Kvaløya, Sørøya, and Seiland. Hammerfest was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
. During this time, U-771 was re-assigned to the 11th U-boat Flotilla on 1 August 1944; she remained a part of that flotilla until 30 September, when she was again re-assigned, this time to the 13th U-boat Flotilla. On 14 October 1944, U-771 finally left Hammerfest and headed into the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
. Twenty-nine days after she left Hammerfest, on 11 November 1944, U-771 was sunk in the Andfjord near Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, by torpedoes fired by the British submarine HMS Venturer
HMS Venturer (P68)
HMS Venturer was a Second World War British submarine.-Construction:Venturer was the lead boat of the British V class submarine, a development of the successful U-class...
. All 51 of her crewmembers were killed.
See also
- List of German U-boats
- Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)
- KriegsmarineKriegsmarineThe Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...