German submarine U-317

<th colspan="2" >Service record

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German submarine U-317 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 12 September 1942 at the Flender Werke at Lübeck, launched on 1 September 1943, and commissioned on 23 October 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Peter Rahlf.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-317 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged.Template:Sfn She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .Template:Sfn

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of .Template:Sfn When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-317 was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one Flak M42 and two C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.Template:Sfn

Service history

U-317 served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, and later with the 9th U-boat Flotilla in front-line service from 1 to 26 June 1944.

U-317Template:'s first patrol took her from Kiel in Germany to Egersund in Norway, between 31 May and 2 June 1944. She then sailed from Egersund on 21 June for her second and final patrol.

U-317 was sunk with all hands on 26 June 1944, northeast of the Shetland islands, in position , by depth charges dropped by a Liberator anti-submarine bomber of No. 86 Squadron RAF.