German submarine U-295 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-295
Ordered	14 October 1941
Builder	Bremer Vulkan Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number	60
Laid down	31 December 1942
Launched	13 September 1943
Commissioned	20 October 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 17 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement	759 tonnes (747 long tons) surfaced 860 t (846 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
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 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	250 m (820 ft) Crush depth: 275–325 m (902–1,066 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 20 October 1943 – 31 July 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 30 September 1944 13th U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 31 March 1945 14th U-boat Flotilla 1 April – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Günther Wieboldt 20 October 1943 – 19 May 1945
Operations:	6 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 13 – 17 July 1944 b. 28 – 29 July 1944 c. 12 – 14 September 1944 d. 1 – 5 October 1944 2nd patrol: 6 October – 9 November 1944 3rd patrol: 18 November – 18 December 1944 4th patrol: 7 – 10 January 1945 5th patrol: 16 – 28 January 1945 6th patrol: a. 15 April – 7 May 1945 b. 12 May 1945 c. 15 – 19 May 1945
Victories:	1 warship damaged (1,150 tons)

German submarine U-295 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 31 December 1942 by the Bremer Vulkan Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 60, launched on 13 September 1943 and commissioned on 20 October with Kapitänleutnant Günther Wieboldt in command.

In six patrols, she damaged one warship.

She surrendered at Loch Eriboll in Scotland on 9 May 1945 and was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 17 December 1945.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-295 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-295 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in October 1943. She was then transferred to the 9th flotilla for operations on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 1 October and moved again to the 14th flotilla on 1 April 1945.

First and second patrols

U-295's first patrol was uneventful.

She then embarked on a series of short journeys between Bergen, Kristiansand, Stavanger and Trondheim.

Her second foray, between Trondheim and Harstad was the most successful. She damaged the British frigate HMS Mounsey east northeast of Murmansk on 2 November 1944.

Third and fourth patrols

The submarine's third sortie took her into the Barents and Norwegian Seas. She returned to Harstad on 18 December 1944.

Her fourth patrol started in Harstad and finished in Narvik. She had spent three days off Murmansk, to no avail.

Fifth patrol

Her fifth effort was just as barren, even though it was longer.

Sixth patrol and fate

The boat departed Narvik on 15 April 1945. Her route took her once again to the Barents Sea. She returned to the Nordic port on 7 May.

She was then moved to Skjomenfjord on 12 May 1945 and in accordance with the surrender terms, she was transferred to Loch Eriboll in northern Scotland for Operation Deadlight on the 19th. She was sunk on 17 December by the guns of ORP Błyskawica.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
2 November 1944	HMS Mounsey	Royal Navy	1,150	Damaged

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)