German submarine U-849 was a long-range Type IXD2 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Laid down in Bremen and launched on 31 October 1942.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-849 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen |
| Yard number | 1055 |
| Laid down | 20 January 1942 |
| Launched | 31 October 1942 |
| Commissioned | 11 March 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk on 25 November 1943 in the South Atlantic west of the Congo estuary at position 06°30′S 05°40′W / 6.500°S 5.667°W by depth charges dropped from a US Liberator. All hands were lost. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IXD2 submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 55 to 64 |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 51 402 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
Design
editGerman Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-849 had a displacement of 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 tonnes (1,771 long tons) while submerged.[3] The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-849 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[3]
Service history
editEven though she was commanded by top U-boat ace Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Otto Schultze (Knight's Cross), she neither sank nor damaged any vessels.
She joined 4th Flotilla for training on 11 March 1943, where she remained until 30 September 1943, whence she then joined 12th Flotilla for active service until her sinking on 25 November 1943.
Fate
editU-849 was sunk by depth charges dropped by a US Navy P4BY-1 Liberator bomber from VB-107 in the South Atlantic west of the River Congo estuary at position 06°30′S 05°40′W / 6.500°S 5.667°W on 25 November 1943. All 63 hands were lost.
References
edit- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXD2 boat U-849". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-849". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 74–75.
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, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 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
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXD2 boat U-849". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2014.