Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-3503

Type XXI submarine

Displacement
1,595 long tons (1,621 t)
Length
76.7 m (251.6 ft)
Beam
8 m (26.2 ft)
Speed
17.9 knots (33.2 km/h, 20.6 mph)
Complement
57
Main gun
37 mm (1.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-35039 September 1944 — 8 May 1945241 days of the war
Type XXI submarine Particulars
Name
U-3503
Builder
F Schichau GmbH, Danzig
Ordered
6 November 1943
Laid down
17 June 1944
Launched
27 July 1944
Commissioned
9 September 1944
Fate
Scuttled on 8 May 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,595 long tons (1,621 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,790 long tons (1,819 t)
Length
76.7 m (251.6 ft) OA
Beam
8 m (26.2 ft)
Draught
6.32 m (20.7 ft)
Speed
17.9 knots (33.2 km/h, 20.6 mph)
Range
15,500 nmi (28,706 km)
Complement
57
Main gun
37 mm (1.5 in)

U-3503 was a Type XXI submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig on 17 June 1944. Launched on 27 July 1944, she entered service on 9 September 1944.

She was one of 118 ships of her class. The class followed the Type VII and was succeeded by the Type XXVI.

The boat displaced 1,595 long tons surfaced and 1,790 long tons submerged. She measured 76.7 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 8 m (26 ft). Her designed speed was 17.9 knots, and she carried a complement of 57.

Her main battery was four 37 mm (1.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 241 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 8 May 1945, at 57°39′N 11°44′E. 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
  • Diesel/Electric
  • 2 × MAN M6V40/46KBB supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engines
  • 2 × SSW GU365/30 double-acting electric motors
  • 2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors
Power
  • 4000 PS (diesel drive)
  • 5000 PS (standard electric drive)
  • 226 PS (silent electric drive)
Armament
  • 6 × bow torpedo tubes
  • 23 × 53.3 cm torpedoes or 17 × torpedoes and 12 × TMC mines
  • 4 × 2 cm AA guns or
  • 4 × 3.7 cm AA guns

Sister ships

93 more in the class

Sources