German submarine U-989

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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-989
Ordered25 May 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number189
Laid down17 October 1942
Launched16 June 1943
Commissioned22 July 1943
FateSunk 14 February 1945 in the North Atlantic in position 61°36′N 01°35′W / 61.600°N 1.583°W / 61.600; -1.583Coordinates: 61°36′N 01°35′W / 61.600°N 1.583°W / 61.600; -1.583, by depth charges from HMS Bayntun, HMS Braithwaite, HMS Loch Eck and HMS Loch Dunvegan.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg
  • 22 July 1943 – 14 February 1945
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 11 January – 4 March 1944
  • 2nd patrol: 6–8 June 1944
  • 3rd patrol: 8–10 July 1944
  • 4th patrol: 9 August – 26 September 1944
  • 5th patrol: 7–14 February 1945
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk (1,791 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged (7,176 GRT)

German submarine U-989 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 189, launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 22 July 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hardo Rodler von Roithberg.

Design[]

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-989 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-989 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 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 22 July 1943, followed by active service on 1 February 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla. On 1 October 1944 she transferred to 33rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In five patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 1,791 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged one other.

Wolfpacks[]

U-989 took part in three wolfpacks, namely

  • Stürmer (26 January – 3 February 1944)
  • Igel 1 (3–17 February 1944)
  • Hai 1 (17–22 February 1944)

Fate[]

U-989 was sunk on 14 February 1945 in the North Atlantic in position

 WikiMiniAtlas
61°36′N 01°35′W / 61.600°N 1.583°W / 61.600; -1.583, by depth charges from HMS Bayntun, , HMS Loch Eck and HMS Loch Dunvegan. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history[]

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
23 August 1944 Louis Kossuth  United States 7,176 Damaged
26 August 1944 Ashmun J Clough  United Kingdom 1,791 Sunk

References[]

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-989". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-989". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 September 2014.

Bibliography[]

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. 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. Vol. 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[]

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