German submarine U-745


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 30 January 1945.
U-745 was launched on 16 April 1943, under the command of Wilhelm von Trotha, who would remain its commanding officer for its entire service. U-745 had a crew of 45.

Design

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, 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 , and one allied warship, the Soviet fleet minesweeper T-76 Korall.

Fate

On 30 January 1945, she was lost with all hands in the Gulf of Finland, probably having been sunk by a mine laid by the Finnish minelayers Louhi and Ruotsinsalmi 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 U-676 and U-745 in the Gulf of Finland south of Hanko.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityDisplacement.Fate
26 August 1944T-45 Antikajnen 140Sunk
11 January 1945T-76 Korall600Sunk