German submarine U-428

	A cross-section of a Type VIIC U-boat.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-428
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Danziger Werft, Danzig
Yard number	129
Laid down	13 August 1942
Launched	11 March 1943
Commissioned	26 June 1943
Fate	Scuttled in northern Germany on 5 May 1945. Wreck broken up in 1946
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors.;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × torpedoes; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 26 June – 8 September 1943; 23rd U-boat Flotilla; 26 October 1943 – 28 February 1945; 31st U-boat Flotilla; 1 March – 3 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 55 375
Commanders:	C.C. Athos Fraternale; 26 June – 8 September 1943; Oblt.z.S. Helmut Münster; 26 October 1943 – 1 May 1944; Oblt.z.S. Hans-Ulrich Hanitsch; 2 May 1944 – 3 May 1945;
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarine U-428 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was scuttled in northern Germany on 5 May 1945. The wreck was broken up in 1946.^[1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-428 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).^[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-428 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The submarine was laid down on 13 August 1942 at the Danziger Werft (yard) at Danzig (now Gdansk), as yard number 129, launched on 11 March 1943 and commissioned on 26 June under the command of Capitano di Corvetta Athos Fraternale.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 26 June 1943 and the 23rd flotilla from 1 October. She was reassigned to the 31st flotilla on 1 March 1945.

The U-boat was named S-1 after being acquired by the Italian Navy in exchange for some transport ships. She returned to Germany after the Italian surrender where she was renamed U-428.

Fate

The submarine was scuttled in the Kiel canal near Audorf on 5 May 1945. The wreck was broken up in 1946.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-428". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-428". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

[uboatnet-1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-428". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-2] Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

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