German World War II submarine
German submarine "U-745" was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" for service during World War II, and which was lost at sea on 31 January 1945.
"U-745" was launched on 16 April 1943, under the command of "Oberleutnant zur See" Wilhelm von Trotha, who would remain its commanding officer for its entire service. "U-745" had a crew of 45.
Design.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. "U-745" had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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 .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . "U-745" 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, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history.
She undertook four patrols during her service, and sank one allied auxiliary ship, the Soviet minesweeping trawler "T-45 Antikajnen (No. 48)", and one allied warship, the Soviet fleet minesweeper "T-76 Korall".
Fate.
On 31 January 1945, she was lost with all hands in the Gulf of Finland by a mine laid by the Finnish minelayers and on 12 January 1945.
Wilhelm von Trotha's body was later found near Föglö, Finland, and was buried three days later. No other bodies were recovered. Unlike most U-boats, which suffered casualties during the course of service due to accidents or other causes, "U-745" suffered no casualties at all, until the time of her disappearance.
In late 2012 the Finnish diving team 'Badewanne', after 10 years of searching, reported they had found both and "U-745" in the Gulf of Finland south of Hanko.
References.
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Bibliography.
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