German submarine U-299
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-299 |
| Ordered: | 23 March 1942 |
| Builder: | Bremer Vulkan Werft, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number: | 64 |
| Laid down: | 1 March 1943 |
| Launched: | 6 November 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 15 December 1943 |
| Fate: | Surrendered, May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight, December 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC/41 submarine |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-299 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was laid down on 1 March 1943 by the Bremer Vulkan Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 64, launched on 6 November 1943 and commissioned on 15 December with Oberleutnant zur See Helmuth Heinrich in command.
In six patrols, she sank no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.
She surrendered at Kristiansand-Sud in May 1945 and was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight in December.
Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-299 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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).[2]
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).[2] 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-299 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.[2]
Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in December 1943. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 5 November and moved again to the 14th flotilla on 1 March 1945.
1st and 2nd patrols
U-295's first patrol was notable in that she came under air attack on 16 July 1944. The commander was wounded. She had been part of a defence line off the Norwegian coast.
She then embarked on a pair of short journeys between Bergen, Larvik and Kristiansand.
Her second foray, between Kristiansand and Bergen was uneventful.
3rd and 4th patrols
The submarine's third sortie took her into the Barents Sea, off Murmansk.
Her fourth patrol started in Trondheim and finished in Bogenbrucht, (west of Narvik).
5th patrol
She departed Bogenbrucht on 18 January 1945 and arrived at Trondheim on the 21st.
6th patrol and fate
The boat departed Trondheim on 24 January 1945. Her route covered the North and Norwegian Seas. She docked in Kristiansand on 15 April. She was at sea for 84 days, her longest patrol.
She surrendered at Kristiansand-sud on 9 May 1945 and in accordance with the terms, she was transferred to Loch Ryan in western Scotland for Operation Deadlight on the 29th. Having been towed out to the scuttling area by HMS Obedient, she was sunk without ceremony on 4 December.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-299". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Hofmann, Markus. "U 299". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VII/C41 boat U-299". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 299". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 2014-12-06.