Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-1203

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-120310 February 1944 — 9 May 1945454 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-1203
Builder
Schichau-Werke, Danzig
Ordered
14 October 1941
Laid down
15 May 1943
Launched
9 December 1943
Commissioned
10 February 1944
Fate
Surrendered on 9 May 1945
Scuttled on 8 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-1203 was a Type VIIC submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. Schichau-Werke, Danzig laid her keel on 15 May 1943. She entered service on 10 February 1944, having been launched on 9 December 1943.

Her class ran to 612 ships. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

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

She was in commission for 454 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 9 May 1945, at 55°50′N 10°05′W. The wreck survives.

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

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources