| History | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Name: | U-731 |
| Ordered: | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder: | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
| Laid down: | 1 October 1941 |
| Launched: | 25 July 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 3 October 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 15 May 1944 near Tangier by British patrol vessels |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: |
|
| Beam: |
|
| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
|
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| Range: |
|
| Test depth: |
|
| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Service record | |
| Identification codes: | M 50 791 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 4 war patrols |
| Victories: | no ships sunk |
German submarine U-731 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 October 1941 at the Schichau-Werke yard at Danzig, launched on 25 July 1942, and commissioned on 3 October 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Techand.
Attached to 8th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-731 completed her training period on 30 April 1943 and was assigned to front-line service.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-731 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), 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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).