German submarine U-290

Summary

German submarine U-290 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-290
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderBremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number55
Laid down12 October 1942
Launched16 June 1943
Commissioned24 July 1943
FateScuttled on 5 May 1945 in Flensburg Fjord
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 53 114
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Hartmut Strenger
  • 24 July – 26 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Herglotz
  • 27 December 1943 – April 1945
  • Oblt.z.S.d.R. Heinz Baum
  • April – 5 May 1945
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 1 – 16 June 1944
  • b. 15 – 17 July 1944
  • c. 12 – 13 August 1944
  • d. 15 – 17 August 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 7 September – 5 November 1944
  • b. 30 – 31 December 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 1 – 29 January 1945
Victories: None

The submarine was laid down on 12 October 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 55. She was launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 24 July under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hartmut Strenger.[1]

She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was scuttled in Flensburg Fjord on 5 May 1945.

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-290 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-290 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 twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history edit

U-290 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from July 1943 to April 1944 and operationally with the 6th flotilla from 1 May. She was reassigned to the 11th flotilla in August. She was transferred twice more, first back to the 8th flotilla in late August, then the 4th flotilla in mid-February 1945.

First patrol edit

The boat's initial foray, which was preceded by a short voyage from Kiel to Egersund (southeast of Stavanger) in Norway, began with her departure from the Nordic port on 1 June 1944 and finished at Bergen on 16 June.

She had been attacked by a Norwegian De Havilland Mosquito of No. 333 Squadron RAF on 14 June. Eight of her crew were wounded.

A series of brief journeys then followed, between Bergen, Kristiansand, Kiel and Gotenhafen (now Gdynia, Poland).

Second patrol edit

She departed Gotenhafen on 7 September 1944. After patrolling the Baltic, she docked at Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) on 5 November.

Third patrol and fate edit

After sailing to Libau in western Latvia,[4] she departed from there on 1 January 1945, arriving in Kiel on the 29th.

She was scuttled in Kupfermühle Bay, part of Flensburg Fjord, on 5 May 1945.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-290". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-290". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ The Times Atlas of the World – Third edition, revised 1995, ISBN 0 7230 0809 4, p. 20

Bibliography edit

  • 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). 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). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; 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.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-290". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 290". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.