German submarine U-1163
German submarine "U-1163" was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" during World War II. She was ordered on 14 October 1941, and was laid down on 5 December 1942 at Danziger Werft AG, Danzig, as yard number 135. She was launched on 12 June 1943 and commissioned under the command of "Oberleutnant zur See" Ernst-Ludwig Balduhn on 6 October of that year. Design. German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. "U-1163" 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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-1163" 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. Service history. "U-1163" did not have a very prosperous career. While she was commissioned on 6 October 1943, it was not until 3 December 1944 that she sank her first (and only) enemy vessel. Despite her lack of ships sunk, "U-1163" was one of only a handful of German U-boats  in World War II to help shoot down a De Havilland Mosquito on 2 August 1944. "U-1163" spent her first eight months in the Kriegsmarine undergoing training operations with the 8th U-boat Flotilla. At the end of her training, she was formally assigned to the 11th U-boat Flotilla stationed in Norway. She began her first patrol on 13 July 1944, almost a full three years after she was ordered. First patrol. Following training exercises with the 8th U-boat Flotilla and a journey from Kiel to Flekkefjord Norway, "U-1163" began her first official war patrol with the 11th  U-boat Flotilla on 13 July 1944. After only seven days at sea however, "U-1163" returned to Norway in the coastal town of Arnöy on 19 July. Second patrol. After her first patrol, "U-1163" spent the next three months traveling up the coast of Norway. On 2 August, "U-1163" and an accompanying U-boat, were traveling on the surface from Stavanger to Kristiansand and had the protection of surface escorts as well. Yet despite all of the measures, two de Havilland Mosquitos (E/333 and S/333) attacked the two U-boats. S/333 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during the  attack and the two U-boats were undamaged.<ref name="Uboat.net/air"></ref> On 15 October 1944, "U-1163" began her second war patrol after leaving Bogenbucht. For 17 days, "U-1163" roamed the Arctic Ocean in search of any Allied convoys heading to the Soviet Union. On 31 October, after not a single engagement with any enemy vessels, "U-1163" entered Hammerfest, Norway. Third patrol. "U-1163"<nowiki>'s</nowiki> third patrol began on 25 November 1944 after she left the port city of Kilbotn. For 22 days, she traveled through the Arctic Ocean in search of any Allied vessels heading to or from the Soviet Union . On 3 December 1944, "U-1163" claimed the only enemy vessel in her career. , a Soviet 433 GRT cargo steam ship, had been separated from her convoy after developing engine trouble, and was stopped, protected by a single minesweeper. The U-1163 hit the "Revoljucija" with a single torpedo, sinking her along with her 23 crew. Thirteen days later, on 16 December, "U-1163" returned to Bogenbucht. Fourth patrol. The last patrol that "U-1163" took part in began on 15 April 1945. She left Kristiansand that day and traveled to the north coast of Ireland. After 25 days at sea, returned to Marvika , Norway where she was handed over to the Allies following the surrender of all German forces a few days before.