German submarine U-413

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German submarine U-413 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

She was laid down on 25 April 1941 at the Danziger Werft (as yard number 114), launched on 15 January 1942 and commissioned on 3 June, with Oberleutnant zur See Gustav Poel in command. Poel commanded her (receiving promotion to Kapitänleutnant), until 19 April 1944, when he was relieved by Oberleutnant zur See Dietrich Sachse who commanded her until her loss. She conducted seven patrols in World War II, sinking six ships totalling Template:GRT and 1,100 tons.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-413 had a displacement of Template:Convert when at the surface and Template:Convert while submerged.Template:Sfn She had a total length of Template:Convert, a pressure hull length of Template:Convert, a beam of Template:Convert, a height of Template:Convert, and a draught of Template:Convert. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of Template:Convert for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of Template:Convert for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two Template:Convert propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of Template:Convert and a maximum submerged speed of Template:Convert.Template:Sfn When submerged, the boat could operate for Template:Convert at Template:Convert; when surfaced, she could travel Template:Convert at Template:Convert. U-413 was fitted with five Template:Convert torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one [[8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun|Template:Convert SK C/35 naval gun]], 220 rounds, and one [[2 cm FlaK 30|Template:Convert C/30]] anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.Template:Sfn

Service history

First and second patrols

The U-boat departed Kiel on 22 October 1942, on her first patrol.

File:StateLibQld 1 199363 Warwick Castle (ship) on maiden voyage to Cape Town, South Africa in 1931.jpg

Warwick Castle in 1931

On 14 November 1942, she sank the 20,107 GRT troop transport ship MV Warwick Castle (one of the largest sunk in World War II).

At 08:44, the ship, under the command of Henry Richard Leepman-Shaw in Convoy MKF-1X was hit by one of two torpedoes fired, about Template:Convert NW of Cape Espichel, Portugal. The U-boat hit her again at 08:57, causing the ship to sink about one hour later. The master, 61 crew members and 34 service personnel died. 201 crew members, 29 gunners and five naval and 131 service personnel were rescued by Template:HMS, Template:HMS, Template:HMCS, and the British Template:MV. The latter ship had been in Convoy KMF-1 for Operation Torch (the invasion of North Africa).

On 19 November 1942, U-413 was attacked by a British Lockheed Hudson aircraft with five bombs and was damaged so severely that she had to return to a new base - Brest in occupied France.

Her second patrol was marked by sinking the American ship West Portal in mid-Atlantic on 5 February 1943; there were no survivors. She also attacked and sank the Greek Mount Mycale on 22 January 1943, northeast of Newfoundland.

Third and fourth patrols

Her third patrol saw her leave Brest on 29 March 1943, once more for the Atlantic. There, she sank the British vessel Wanstead south of Greenland, whose survivors were picked up by the corvette Template:HMS and the ASW (anti-submarine warfare) Template:HMS.

Her fourth sortie was a frustrating one; it was split into three parts, but she failed to sink any ships.

Fifth and sixth patrols

On 20 February 1944, she sank the British 1,100 tons destroyer Template:HMS about 15 miles off Trevose Head, north Cornwall. This was Poel's last patrol. He moved to the Naval Academy Mürwik in Flensburg.

Seventh patrol and sinking

Her last victory was when she sank Saint Enogat on 19 August 1944 in the English Channel.

U-413 did not suffer any casualties until 20 August 1944, when she was sunk, by one of the 115 strategically placed Naval Mines in the Cornish corridor 15 miles off the coast from Padstow. 45 of her crew were killed; there was one survivor.

The wreck of U-413 was located and identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney in 2000 close to the official sinking position.

Wolfpacks

U-413 took part in 15 wolfpacks, namely:

• Westwall (8 – 19 November 1942)
• Template:Ill (10 – 31 January 1943)
• Pfeil (1 – 9 February 1943)
• Adler (11 – 13 April 1943)
• Meise (13 – 27 April 1943)
• Star (27 April – 4 May 1943)
• Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)
• Naab (12 – 15 May 1943)
• Donau 2 (15 – 26 May 1943)
• Schlieffen (14 – 22 October 1943)
• Siegfried (22 – 27 October 1943)
• Siegfried 2 (27 – 30 October 1943)
• Körner (30 October – 2 November 1943)
• Tirpitz 2 (2 – 8 November 1943)
• Eisenhart 8 (9 – 11 November 1943)

Trivia

Neal Stephenson's novel Cryptonomicon features a fictitious U-413, a milchkuh (supply boat).

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage<ref group=Note name=tonnage>Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.</ref>	Fate<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
14 November 1942	Warwick Castle	Template:Flag	20,107	Sunk
22 January 1943	Mount Mycale	Template:Flag	3,556	Sunk
5 February 1943	West Portal	Template:Flag	5,376	Sunk
21 April 1943	Wanstead	Template:Flag	5,486	Sunk
21 April 1944	Template:HMS	Template:Navy	1,100	Sunk
19 August 1944	Saint Enogat	Template:Flag	2,360	Sunk

Bibliography

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External links

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