German submarine U-279
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-279 |
| Ordered: | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder: | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number: | 44 |
| Laid down: | 31 March 1942 |
| Launched: | 16 December 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 3 February 1943 |
| Fate: | Sunk, October 1943 by an American aircraft[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record[2][3] | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | 4 September – 4 October 1943 |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-279 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The submarine was laid down on 31 March 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 44. She was launched on 16 December 1942 and commissioned on 3 February 1943 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Franke.[2]
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-279 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-279 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
Service history
U-279 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from February to July 1943 and operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 August 1943.[2] She carried out one patrol, but sank no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.
Patrol and loss
The boat departed Kiel on 4 September 1943. She entered the Atlantic Ocean after negotiating the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She was sunk exactly a month after her departure (4 October), by depth charges dropped from a US Ventura aircraft southwest of Iceland.[1] There were men in boats and in the water, but the Ventura could not call for assistance. Its radio had been put out of commission during the attack.[5][6]
Forty-eight men died; there were no survivors.
Wolfpacks
U-279 took part in one wolfpack, namely.
- Rossbach (24 September - 4 October 1943)
Previously recorded fate
The submarine was initially categorized as having been sunk by a British Liberator southwest of Iceland on 4 October 1943.
References
- 1 2 Kemp 1999, pp. 147-8.
- 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-279". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-279". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-279 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ↑ Hofmann, Markus. "U 279". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-279". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 279". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Coordinates: 60°40′N 26°30′W / 60.667°N 26.500°W