German submarine U-339
German submarine U-339 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 7 July 1941 at the Nordseewerke yard at Emden as yard number 211, launched on 30 June 1942 and commissioned on 25 August under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Basse.
History | |
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Name: | U-339 |
Ordered: | 17 December 1940 |
Builder: | Nordseewerke, Emden |
Yard number: | 211 |
Laid down: | 30 July 1941 |
Launched: | 30 June 1942 |
Commissioned: | 25 August 1942 |
Fate: | Scuttled, May 1945 near Wilhelmshaven |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record[1] | |
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Commanders: | |
Operations: | None |
Victories: | None |
The U-boat spent most of her career as a training vessel. She sank or damaged no ships.
She was scuttled in May 1945 at war's end near Wilhelmshaven.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-339 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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).[2]
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).[2] 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-339 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 25 August 1942. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla on 1 March 1943. She was reassigned to the 22nd flotilla on 1 April.[1]
Fate
The boat was seriously damaged by depth charges dropped from a British PBY Catalina of No. 190 Squadron RAF on 26 March 1943. As a result, she spent the rest of the war as a training vessel.[3]
She was scuttled near Wilhelmshaven on 3 May 1945.
References
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-339". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 339". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). IV. Hamburg; Berlin; Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-339". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 339". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.