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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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German Submarine U-959

German submarine U-959 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 21 March 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 159. She was launched on 3 December 1942 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Martin Duppel on 21 January 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-959 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-959 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

Service history

On 2 May 1944, U-959 was sunk by depth charges, south-east of Jan Mayen Island, in the Norwegian Sea, from a British Swordfish of 842 Squadron/K RNFAA from the escort carrier HMS Fencer. Her crew of 53 were all lost.

The wreck is located at 69°20′N 00°20′W / 69.333°N 0.333°W / 69.333; -0.333.

Wolfpacks

U-959 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

  • Boreas (29 February – 10 March 1944)
  • Thor (10 – 15 March 1944)

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Martin Duppel". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Friedrich Weitz". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-959". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  4. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography