Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-794

Type XVIIA submarine

Displacement
312 long tons (317 t)
Length
36.6 m (120.1 ft)
Beam
4.5 m (14.8 ft)
Speed
9 knots (16.7 km/h, 10.4 mph)
Complement
12

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-79414 November 1943 — 5 May 1945538 days of the war
Type XVIIA submarine Particulars
Name
U-794
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Ordered
7 August 1942
Laid down
1 February 1943
Launched
7 October 1943
Commissioned
14 November 1943
Fate
Scuttled on 5 May 1945, later broken up (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
312 long tons (317 t)
Displacement, surfaced
236 long tons (240 t)
Displacement, submerged
259 long tons (263 t)
Length
36.6 m (120.1 ft) OA
Beam
4.5 m (14.8 ft)
Draught
4.55 m (14.9 ft)
Speed
9 knots (16.7 km/h, 10.4 mph)
Range
1,840 nmi (3,408 km)
Complement
12

U-794 was a Type XVIIA submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Germaniawerft, Kiel laid her keel on 1 February 1943. Launched on 7 October 1943, she entered service on 14 November 1943.

Eight ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type II (Conventional coastal submarine) and was succeeded by the Type XXIII (conventional coastal submarine).

The boat displaced 236 long tons surfaced and 259 long tons submerged. She measured 36.6 m (120 ft) long with a beam of 4.5 m (15 ft). Her designed speed was 9 knots, and she carried a complement of 12.

Her main battery was two 533 mm (21.0 in) guns.

She was in commission for 538 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 5 May 1945, at 54°48′N 9°49′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
  • 1 × Deutz SAA SM517 supercharged 8-cylinder diesel engine, 210 PS
  • 1 × AEG Maschine AWT98 electric motor, 77 PS
  • 2 × Walter gas turbines, 5000 PS
  • 1 shaft
Armament
  • 2 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (bow)
  • 4 × torpedoes

Sister ships

Sources