Revision 8/29/2009 7:16 PM

Name: U-701 Type: Submarine (VII-C)

Built: Stulcken Sohn, Hamburg Keel Laid: 5/13/1940
Launched: 4/16/1941
Commissioned: 7/16/1941

Date Sunk: 7/7/42 Cause: Aerial depth-charged

Size (ft.): 218 x 20 x 15 Tonnage: 1070 displacement tons fully loaded

Propulsion: Two diesel engines/two electric motors Location N34°xxx’/W75° xxxx’

MISCELLANEOUS & CONSTRUCTION NOTES: (Sources: Westwood, Stern) Constructed between 1938-1944, the VIIC boats were slightly larger internally than their predecessor, the type VIIB and also had a slightly improved surface range. (9700 nautical miles to 9400 nautical miles, at 10 knots, combined diesel/electric drive) Their maximum surface speed was 17-17.7 knots and their maximum submerged speed was 7.6 knots. The type VIIC carried 14 torpedoes (4 in forward tubes, 8 in forward torpedo compartment, 1 in aft torpedo tube and 1 aft torpedo compartment). The orginal VIIC design included a 88mm deck gun mounted forward of conning tower. Effective against surface vessels in the early years of the war, this gun was removed from new and older boats after 1942 due to the increased danger of enemy air attack. The boat was designed to carry 60 men (4 officers and 56 enlisted men) The type VIIC was by far the most common of the World War II German u-boats with 660 boats built.

DIVING NOTES:
Diving Depths: 115 ft.
Visibility: Generally very good; range 50 to 100+ ft.
Current: moderate to undiveable
Summer Temperature: high 70s to lo 80s
Points of Interest: intact u-boat; 88mm deck gun

Fish/Animal Life: Because of the limited exposure of the wreck, there is not large quantities of marine life on the wreck; The bottom fish seem to be predominately tautog and black sea bass - all more indicative of the cooler waters north of Diamond Shoals. The time I dived the wreck, there were large groups of amberjack and 4 sandtiger sharks cruising the wreck. I did see an ocean sunfish (Mola mola) while doing my deco hang on the wreck.

Description:
The U-701 lies on its keel with a 45 degree list to the starboard side. As a result, the port side is the "high" side of the wreck. The U-701 sits in an area of the shoals that has moving "sand waves" and it appears from past reports that the wreck was in a period of "maximum" exposure when I visited the wreck in August 2004. The conning tower, the 88mm deck gun and the extreme stern are exposed as well as the port side middle saddle tank areas surrounding the conning tower. Given the nature of the sand movement, I suspect that the conning tower and deck gun are the only parts the remain consistently exposed. This area of the shoals is know for its hard and often undiveable currents. These often make the site of the U-701 undiveable and also difficult to anchor. Currents aside, the wreck is intact and relatively small and thus easy to navigate. Depending on how much is exposed, the wreck offers little "relief" and more than 4-5 divers would be a "crowd". The lack of consistent relief and exposed hard surface also limits the amount of marine life the wreck attracts.

http://www.nc-wreckdiving.com/WRECKS/U701/U701.HTML

http://www.divehatteras.com/U-701.html

Web site for videos of various wreck sites in the area-
http://www.olympusdiving.com/PhotoGallery/VideoGallery/tabid/115/Default.aspx

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