Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-401

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-40110 April 1941 — 3 August 1941115 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-401
Builder
Danziger Werft, Danzig
Ordered
23 September 1939
Laid down
8 April 1940
Launched
16 December 1940
Commissioned
10 April 1941
Fate
Sunk on 3 August 1941 (1941)
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-401 was a Type VIIC submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Danziger Werft, Danzig laid her keel on 8 April 1940. Launched on 16 December 1940, she entered service on 10 April 1941.

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 115 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 3 August 1941, at 50°27′N 19°50′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
  • 4 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes in the bow
  • 14 × torpedoes
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 x 2 cm C/30 AA gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources