Wikipedia

German submarine U-284

German submarine U-284 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-284
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderBremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number49
Laid down1 July 1942
Launched6 March 1943
Commissioned14 April 1943
FateScuttled, southeast of Greenland, 21 December 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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
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][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 04 507
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Günter Scholz
  • 14 April – 21 December 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 28 November – 21 December 1943
Victories: None

The submarine was laid down on 1 July 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 49. She was launched on 6 March 1943 and commissioned on 14 April under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günter Scholz.[1]

Design

edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-284 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-284 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

edit

U-284 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from April to October 1943 and operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 November.[1] She carried out one patrol, sinking no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.

Patrol

edit

The boat's only patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 23 November 1943. She passed between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean. She was scuttled southeast of Greenland on 21 December 1943, after sustaining sea damage. Her crew were taken off by U-629 and taken to Brest in occupied France, arriving on 5 January 1944.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-284". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-284". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

edit
  • 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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
edit
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-284". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 284". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

55°04′N 30°23′W / 55.067°N 30.383°W / 55.067; -30.383

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_submarine_U-284&oldid=1242473940"