German submarine U-741

German submarine U-741 was a Type VIIC U-boat built by F Schichau GmbH of Danzig and commissioned on 10 April 1943.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-741 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 460/8–27 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-741 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
On 5 July 1944, U-741 departed Brest under the protection of 4 Vorpostenboot escort trawlers. Escort Group 12, Royal Canadian Navy, detected the German force on radar and intercepted it, engaging in the vicinity of the Pierres Noires lighthouse (Battle of Pierres Noires) in the late evening. U-741 managed to escape, but one of the German escorts was sunk.

On 15 August 1944, she attacked convoy FTM-69 and torpedoed the Royal Navy Tank Landing ship HMS LST-404, 35 miles South East of St. Catherine's Point causing extensive damage and seven fatalities. Although the vessel was beached, she later broke in two and was declared a total loss. Convoy escorts counter-attacked; the corvette HMS Orchis (K76) is credited with the destruction of U-741. Orchis rescued one survivor.

The wreck was identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney in 2000 near the position given by the Allies.

In five patrols U-741 accounted for the total loss of one warship, for a total of 1,625 tons.

Wolfpacks
U-741 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
 * Coronel 1 (14 – 17 December 1943)
 * Sylt (18 – 23 December 1943)
 * Rügen 2 (23 – 28 December 1943)
 * Rügen 1 (28 December 1943 – 7 January 1944)
 * Rügen (7 – 14 January 1944)
 * Preussen (7 – 22 March 1944)