Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-318

Type VIIC/41 submarine

Displacement
747 long tons (759 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-31813 November 1943 — 9 May 1945543 days of the war
Type VIIC/41 submarine Particulars
Name
U-318
Builder
Flender Werke, Lübeck
Ordered
14 October 1941
Laid down
14 October 1942
Launched
25 September 1943
Commissioned
13 November 1943
Fate
Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk on 21 December 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
747 long tons (759 t)
Displacement, submerged
846 long tons (860 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-318 was a Type VIIC/41 submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Flender Werke, Lübeck on 14 October 1942. She entered service on 13 November 1943, having been launched on 25 September 1943.

612 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 747 long tons surfaced and 846 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 543 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 9 May 1945, at 55°47′N 8°30′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
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 AA guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources