Summary
German submarine U-291 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-291 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 56 |
| Laid down | 17 October 1942 |
| Launched | 30 June 1943 |
| Commissioned | 4 August 1943 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 53 159 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
The submarine was laid down on 17 October 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 56. She was launched on 30 June 1943 and commissioned on 4 August under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Keerle.[1]
She carried out no patrols and did not sink or damage any ships.
The boat surrendered on 5 May 1945 at Cuxhaven. She was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 20 December 1945.
Design edit
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-291 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-291 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-291 served with the 21st U-boat Flotilla for training from 4 to 31 August 1943 and was a Trials boat with the 23rd flotilla from 1 September 1943 until 1 July 1944. She then worked as a 'school' boat from 1 July 1944 to 28 February 1945 with the 21st flotilla once more. Her last assignment was with the 31st flotilla from 1 March to 8 May 1945.
The submarine capitulated at Cuxhaven on 5 May 1945. She was transferred from Wilhelmshaven to Loch Ryan in Scotland for Operation Deadlight on 24 June and was sunk by the guns of HMS Onslaught[4] off Northern Ireland on 20 December 1945.
References edit
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-291". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-291". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Hofmann, Markus. "U 291". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
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). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 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-291". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 291". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
55°50′N 9°08′W / 55.833°N 9.133°W