German submarine U-1197

German submarine U-1197 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 25 August 1941, and was laid down on 13 March 1943 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1567. She was launched on 30 September 1943 and commissioned under the command of Leutnant zur See Heinz Baum on 2 December 1943.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-1197 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-1197 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

Service history
U-1197 was badly damaged during a US 8th AF raid on the Deschimag AG Weser shipyard in Bremen on 30 March 1945. Due to the heavy bomb damage U-1197 was decommissioned on 25 April 1945 at Wesermünde.

U-1197 was captured by British forces, still at Wesermünde in May 1945.

In February 1946, U-1197 was sunk by the US Navy in the North Sea.