German submarine U-434

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-434
Ordered23 September 1939
BuilderSchichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1475
Laid down20 January 1940
Launched15 March 1941
Commissioned21 June 1941
FateSunk on 18 December 1941
General characteristics
Class & typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 43 633
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Wolfgang Heyda
  • 21 June – 18 December 1941
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 2 November – 18 December 1941
Victories: None

German submarine U-434 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The U-boat was laid down on 20 January 1940 at the Schichau-Werke yard, Danzig, launched on 15 March 1941, and commissioned on 21 June 1941, Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Heyda commanding.

U-434 sailed from Kristiansand, Norway on 2 November 1941, on her only war patrol. On 18 December, U-434 was sunk in the North Atlantic north of Madeira, Portugal, in position 36°15′N 15°48′W / 36.250°N 15.800°W / 36.250; -15.800. The U-boat was forced to the surface by depth charges from the British escort destroyer HMS Blankney and the destroyer HMS Stanley. There were two dead and 42 survivors.