German submarine U-74 (1940)

U-74 was a submarine of the Type VIIB U-boat built for the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1940. Her keel was laid at Bremer Vulkan of Bremen-Vegesack on 5 November 1939. Launched on 31 August 1940, she entered service on 31 October 1940.

She was one of 24 ships of her class. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 741 long tons surfaced and 843 long tons submerged. She measured 66.5 m (218 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.9 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 551 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 2 May 1942, at 37°32′N 0°10′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.