Summary
German submarine U-529 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 26 November 1941 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 344, launched on 15 July 1942, and commissioned on 30 September 1942 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg-Werner Fraatz. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla, U-529 was transferred to the 10th flotilla for front-line service on 1 February 1943.[2]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-529 |
| Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 344 |
| Laid down | 26 November 1941 |
| Launched | 15 July 1942 |
| Commissioned | 30 September 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 15 February 1943[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IXC/40 submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[2][3] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 50 148 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
Design edit
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-529 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-529 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[4]
Service history edit
U-529 sailed from Kiel on her first and only war patrol on 30 January 1943.[3] The U-boat was sunk with all hands on 15 February 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 55°45′N 31°09′W / 55.750°N 31.150°W, by depth charges from a British B-24 Liberator aircraft from No. 201 Squadron RAF. She was originally listed as missing, assumed lost at sea, as the Liberator attack of 15 February was believed to have sunk U-225.[2]
Wolfpacks edit
U-529 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
- Ritter (11 – 12 February 1943)
References edit
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-529". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-529". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-529 from 30 Jan 1943 to 15 Feb 1943". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 68.
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.
- Gröner, Eric; 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 IXC/40 boat U-529". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 529". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 1 February 2015.