German Submarine U-659
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-659 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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).
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-659 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 9 December 1941, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In five patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 7,519 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged three others.
Wolfpacks
U-659 took part in seven wolfpacks, namely:
- Vorwärts (25 August – 11 September 1942)
- Streitaxt (20 – 31 October 1942)
- Spitz (22 – 29 December 1942)
- Neptun (18 February – 3 March 1943)
- Westmark (6 – 8 March 1943)
- Neuland (8 – 13 March 1943)
- Drossel (29 April – 4 May 1943)
Fate
U-659 sank on 4 May 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 43°32′N 13°20′W / 43.533°N 13.333°W after colliding with U-439, when both were stalking a Gibraltar convoy. There were just 3 survivors, and 44 hands lost.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 September 1942 | Empire Oil | United Kingdom | 8,029 | Damaged |
30 October 1942 | Bullmouth | United Kingdom | 7,519 | Sunk |
30 October 1942 | Corinaldo | United Kingdom | 7,131 | Damaged |
30 October 1942 | Tasmania | United Kingdom | 6,405 | Damaged |
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-659". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-659". 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). 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.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell. pp. 105–107, 117, 123, 124, 189. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- 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
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-659". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.