Type VII submarine

The Type VII was a class of medium U-boats built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine from 1935 to 1945. Derived from the World War I design of the Type UB III and the Vetehinen class built for Finland, the Type VII was designed for attacking the North Atlantic convoy lanes and formed the backbone of the German effort in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. The Type VII came in several subtypes: The first subtype VIIA had some shortcomings in handling, range and armament, and these shortcomings were addressed in the subsequent VIIB. When more space was needed for a sonar, a slightly enlargened version VIIC was put into production. The fourth subtype VIIC/41 featured a strengthened pressure hull for improved diving depth. Further subtypes included a mine laying Type VIID and a torpedo supply U-boat Type VIIF.

The Type VII U-boat building program began slowly after the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935, by the beginning of the war on 3 September 1939 only eighteen Type VII were in service, but by the end of the war a total of 709 boats had been commissioned. Many more were planned, ordered or even laid down, but the massive building program was abruptly halted in September 1943 when it became clear that this class had become obsolete and construction of U-boats had to focus on the newer elektroboote. At the end of the war, most of the remaining boats were scuttled either by their crews in Operation Regenbogen or later by the British in Operation Deadlight. A few survivors served in foreign navies, the last one was decommissioned in 1970. The lone surviving example, U-995, is on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial located in Laboe, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.