German submarine U-985
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-985 |
| Ordered: | 25 May 1941 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 185 |
| Laid down: | 18 September 1942 |
| Launched: | 20 May 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 24 June 1943 |
| Fate: | Decommissioned on 15 November 1944 following heavy damage suffered on 23 October 1944 when she hit a German mine at Lister in Southern Norway |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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| Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (1,735 GRT) |
German submarine U-985 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 18 September 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 185, launched on 20 May 1943 and commissioned on 24 June 1943 under Kapitänleutnant Horst Kessler.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-985 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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-985 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 career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 24 June 1943, followed by active service on 1 January 1944 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In three patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 1,735 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-985 took part in four wolfpacks, namely
- Stürmer 2 (26 January – 3 February 1944)
- Igel 1 (3–17 February 1944)
- Hai 1 (17–22 February 1944)
- Preussen (22 February – 10 March 1944)
Fate
U-985 was decommissioned on 15 November 1944 following heavy damage suffered on 23 October 1944 when she hit a German mine at Lister in Southern Norway. She returned to Kristiansand and taken out of service. She was captured at the end of the war and broken up.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 February 1944 | Margit |  United Kingdom |
1,735 | Sunk |
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-985". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-985". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 September 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.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-985". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 985". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 29 December 2014.