German submarine U-1278

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1278.
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-1278
Ordered:	13 June 1942
Builder:	Bremer Vulkan AG, Bremen
Yard number:	73
Laid down:	12 August 1943
Launched:	15 April 1944
Commissioned:	31 May 1944
Fate:	Sunk, 17 February 1945
General characteristics
Type:	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement:	757 long tons (769 t) surfaced 857 long tons (871 t) submerged
Length:	67.23 m (220 ft 7 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 × diesel engines 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 × electric motors 2 × screws
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:	250 m (820 ft) Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	44-52 officers & ratings
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla (Training) 31 May – 30 November 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla (Active service) 1 December 1944 – 17 February 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Erich Müller-Bethke 31 May 1944 - 17 February 1945
Operations:	1 patrol
Victories:	None

German submarine U-1278 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 13 June 1942, and was laid down on 12 August 1943, at Bremer Vulkan AG, Bremen, as yard number 73. She was launched on 15 April 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Erich Müller-Bethke on 31 May 1944.

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1278 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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), an overall 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 AEG GU 460/8–276 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).