German submarine U-299 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-299
Ordered	23 March 1942
Builder	Bremer Vulkan Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number	64
Laid down	1 March 1943
Launched	6 November 1943
Commissioned	15 December 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 4 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 15 December 1943 – 31 July 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 4 November 1944 13th U-boat Flotilla 5 November 1944 – 28 February 1945 14th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Helmuth Heinrich 15 December 1943 – 9 August 1944 Oblt.z.S. Dietrich Zehle 9 August – 3 September 1944 Oblt.z.S. Helmuth Heinrich 3 September – 31 October 1944 Oblt.z.S. Bernhard Emde 1 November 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	6 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 5 – 20 July 1944 b. 15 – 17 Aug 1944 c. 30 September – 1 October 1944 2nd patrol: 11 – 28 October 1944 3rd patrol: 13 – 16 November 1944 4th patrol: 21 November – 31 December 1944 5th patrol: 18 – 21 January 1945 6th patrol: 24 January – 15 April 1945
Victories:	None

German submarine U-299 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 1 March 1943 by the Bremer Vulkan Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 64, launched on 6 November 1943 and commissioned on 15 December with Oberleutnant zur See Helmuth Heinrich in command.

In six patrols, she sank no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.

She surrendered at Kristiansand-Sud on 9 May 1945 and was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 4 December 1945.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-299 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-299 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 December 1943. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 5 November and moved again to the 14th flotilla on 1 March 1945.

First and second patrols

U-295's first patrol was notable in that she came under air attack on 16 July 1944. The commander was wounded. She had been part of a defence line off the Norwegian coast.

She then embarked on a pair of short journeys between Bergen, Larvik and Kristiansand.

Her second foray, between Kristiansand and Bergen was uneventful.

Third and fourth patrols

The submarine's third sortie took her into the Barents Sea, off Murmansk.

Her fourth patrol started in Trondheim and finished in Bogenbrucht, (west of Narvik).

Fifth patrol

She departed Bogenbrucht on 18 January 1945 and arrived at Trondheim on the 21st.

Sixth patrol and fate

The boat departed Trondheim on 24 January 1945. Her route covered the North and Norwegian Seas. She docked in Kristiansand on 15 April. She was at sea for 84 days, her longest patrol.

She surrendered at Kristiansand-sud on 9 May 1945 and in accordance with the terms, she was transferred to Loch Ryan in western Scotland for Operation Deadlight on the 29th. Having been towed out to the scuttling area by HMS Obedient, she was sunk without ceremony on 4 December.

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)