Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-237

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-23730 January 1943 — 14 May 1943106 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-237
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Ordered
20 January 1941
Laid down
23 April 1942
Launched
17 December 1942
Commissioned
30 January 1943
Fate
Sunk by American bombs in Kiel during a raid on 14 May 1943, but was raised, repaired and returned to service.
Sunk a second time by British bombs at the Deutsche Werke in Kiel on 4 April 1945.
By aircraft (1943)
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-237 was a Type VIIC submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Germaniawerft, Kiel laid her keel on 23 April 1942. She entered service on 30 January 1943, having been launched on 17 December 1942.

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 106 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 14 May 1943 by aircraft. 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 (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × G7e torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun(220 rounds)
  • 1 x 2 cm C/30 AA gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources