Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine 1940

German submarine U-73 (1940)

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-7330 September 1940 — 16 December 19431,174 days of the war
Type VIIB U-boat Particulars
Name
U-73
Pennant / hull number
1940
Builder
Vegesacker Werft
Ordered
2 June 1938
Laid down
5 November 1939
Launched
27 July 1940
Commissioned
30 September 1940
Fate
Sunk, 16 December 1943 (1943)
Status
Wreck

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-73 was a submarine of the Type VIIB U-boat built for the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1940. Vegesacker Werft laid her keel on 5 November 1939. Launched on 27 July 1940, she entered service on 30 September 1940.

Her class ran to 24 ships. 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 1,174 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 16 December 1943, at 36°07′N 0°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 propeller 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