German submarine U-997

U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-997.
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-997
Ordered:	14 October 1941
Builder:	Blohm & Voss AG, Hamburg
Yard number:	197
Laid down:	7 December 1942
Launched:	18 August 1943
Commissioned:	23 September 1943
Fate:	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Narvik, Norway
General characteristics (VIIC/41)
Class and type:	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement:	759 tonnes (747 long tons) surfaced 860 t (846 long tons) 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:	2,800–3,200 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) 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:	5th U-boat Flotilla (Training) 23 September 1943 – 30 April 1944 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 – 31 May 1944 13th U-boat Flotilla 1 June 1944 – 1 March 1945 14th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Hans Lehmann 23 September 1943 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	7 patrols
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (1,603 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (4,287 GRT) 1 warship sunk (105 tons)

German submarine U-997 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 December 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 197, launched on 18 August 1943 and commissioned on 23 September 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans Lehmann.

Like all Type VIIC/41 U-boats, U-977 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 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), a beam length of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), and a draught length of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged six-cylinder four-stroke 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) and two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. The boat was capable of operating at a depth of 250 metres (820 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). 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-997 was fitted with three anti-aircraft guns, five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four on the bow and one on the stern) and fourteen torpedoes. Its complement was between forty-four and sixty.