German submarine U-984
German submarine U-984 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 September 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 184, launched on 12 May 1943 and commissioned on 17 June 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Sieder.
History | |
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Name: | U-984 |
Ordered: | 25 May 1941 |
Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number: | 184 |
Laid down: | 7 September 1942 |
Launched: | 12 May 1943 |
Commissioned: | 17 June 1943 |
Fate: | Sunk 20 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in the Bay of Biscay in position 48°16′N 05°33′W, by HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and HMCS Chaudiere. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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Service record[1] | |
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Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-984 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).[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-984 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 17 June 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
On 22 January 1944, Maschinenobergefreiter Hermann Keller was lost overboard in the North Atlantic.
On 8 June 1944, U-984 was bombed by an unidentified Allied aircraft and was sufficiently damaged to force a return to base on 9 June
In 5 patrols she accounted for the total loss of 3 merchant ships, for a total of 21,550 gross register tons (GRT), one warship total loss (1,300 tons) and damaged one other merchant ship.
Wolfpacks
U-984 took part in four wolfpacks, namely
- Rügen (14–26 January 1944)
- Stürmer (26 January – 3 February 1944)
- Igel 1 (3–17 February 1944)
- Dragoner (22–27 May 1944)
Fate
U-984 was sunk on 20 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in the Bay of Biscay in position 48°16′N 05°33′W, by depth charges from Canadian destroyers HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and HMCS Chaudiere. All hands were lost.
Refer U-Boat.net U-984 status (Axel Niestle & Innes McCartney, 2012): U-984's updated loss notes states hulk found in the English Channel, off Brighton, 50.03.732N, 00.32.398W by 2000. U-Boat lost with all crew to unknown cause by 02/08/1944. The RCN attack in the Bay of Biscay 20/08/1944, 48.16N, 05.33W would have been against a non-sub target.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[3] |
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25 June 1944 | HMS Goodson | 1,300 | Total loss | |
29 June 1944 | Edward M. House | 7,240 | Damaged | |
29 June 1944 | H.G. Blasdel | 7,176 | Total loss | |
29 June 1944 | John A. Treutlen | 7,198 | Total loss | |
29 June 1944 | James A. Farrell | 7,176 | Total loss |
See also
References
Notes
- Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-984". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-984". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 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.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)
- Debus, Marc; Nell, Alfred (2017). Das letzte Geleit - vom Vorpostenboot zur U-Boot-Flotte : a autobiography. Translated by Toalster, David. Neu Anspach/Germany: Schreibstark-Verlag. ISBN 978-3946922193.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.
- 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-984". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.