Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-271

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-27123 September 1942 — 28 January 1944492 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-271
Builder
Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Ordered
20 January 1941
Laid down
21 October 1941
Launched
29 July 1942
Commissioned
23 September 1942
Fate
Sunk on 28 January 1944 (1944)
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-271 was a Type VIIC submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack laid her keel on 21 October 1941. She entered service on 23 September 1942, having been launched on 29 July 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 492 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 28 January 1944, at 53°15′N 15°52′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 (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 × TMA or 39 × TMB tube-launched mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 2 × 20 mm AA (4,380 rounds)

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources