Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine 1938

German submarine U-47 (1938)

Type VIIB U-boat

Displacement
741 long tons (753 t)
Length
66.5 m (218.2 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.9 knots (33.2 km/h, 20.6 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-4717 December 1938 — 7 March 1941553 days of the war
Type VIIB U-boat Particulars
Name
U-47
Pennant / hull number
1938
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Ordered
21 November 1936
Laid down
27 February 1937
Launched
29 October 1938
Commissioned
17 December 1938
Fate
Missing 7 March 1941, in the North Atlantic near the Rockall Bank and Trough. (1941)
Status
Unknown

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
741 long tons (753 t)
Displacement, submerged
843 long tons (857 t)
Length
66.5 m (218.2 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.9 knots (33.2 km/h, 20.6 mph)
Range
8,700 nmi (16,112 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-47 was a submarine of the Type VIIB U-boat built for the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1938. Germaniawerft, Kiel laid her keel on 27 February 1937. She entered service on 17 December 1938, having been launched on 29 October 1938.

She was one of 24 ships of her class. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 741 long tons surfaced and 843 long tons submerged. She measured 66.5 m (218 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.9 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 553 days of the Second World War.

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 mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun

Sister ships

Sources