Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-720

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-72017 September 1943 — 5 May 1945596 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-720
Builder
H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg
Ordered
25 August 1941
Laid down
17 August 1942
Launched
5 June 1943
Commissioned
17 September 1943
Fate
Surrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945 (1945)
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-720 was a Type VIIC submarine of the Kriegsmarine. H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg laid her keel on 17 August 1942. Launched on 5 June 1943, she entered service on 17 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 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 596 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 5 May 1945, at 56°04′N 9°35′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 × torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × 53.3 cm torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 2 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources