German submarine U-84 (1941)

Summary

German submarine U-84 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

U-52, a typical Type VIIB boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-84
Ordered9 June 1938
BuilderFlender Werke AG, Lübeck
Yard number280
Laid down9 November 1939
Launched26 February 1941
Commissioned29 April 1941
FateSunk by US aircraft, 7 August 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIB submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.50 m (31 ft 2 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
  • 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,700 nmi (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 230–250 m (750–820 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 40 057
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Horst Uphoff
  • 29 April 1941 – 7 August 1943
Operations:
  • 8 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 9 August – 22 September 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 16 October – 18 November 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 21 December 1941 – 7 February 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 16 March – 16 May 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 10 June – 13 August 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 29 September – 7 December 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 17 February – 4 May 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 10 June – 7 August 1943
Victories:
  • 6 merchant ships sunk
    (29,905 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (7,176 GRT)

She was launched on 26 February 1941 and commissioned on 29 April 1941. She operated during the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War.

Design edit

German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-84 had a displacement of 753 tonnes (741 long tons) when at the surface and 857 tonnes (843 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 66.50 m (218 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 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 460/8-276 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).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,700 nautical miles (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-84 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 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]

Service history edit

U-84 carried out eight patrols and accounted for six ships sunk and one ship damaged during World War II. She operated in the Gulf of Mexico for a time. Commanded by Captain Uphoff, U-84 torpedoed the freighter Baja California just forward of midships whilst in the Gulf of Mexico on 19 July 1942 at 06:45. Baja California sank in about 114 feet (35 m) of water about 60 to 70 nautical miles (110 to 130 km; 69 to 81 mi) southwest of Fort Myers, Florida. Baja California, en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Key West, was carrying a load of general cargo which included glassware.[2]

Fate edit

U-84 was sunk while under the command of Horst Uphoff on 7 August 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 27°55′N 68°03′W / 27.917°N 68.050°W / 27.917; -68.050 by a Mk 24 homing torpedo dropped on it by a US B24 Liberator aircraft (VB-105/B-4 USN). 46 dead (all hands lost).[3]

Wolfpacks edit

U-84 took part in seventeen wolfpacks, namely:

  • Grönland (16 – 27 August 1941)
  • Markgraf (27 August – 13 September 1941)
  • Schlagetot (20 October – 1 November 1941)
  • Raubritter (1 – 4 November 1941)
  • Seydlitz (27 December 1941 – 13 January 1942)
  • Zieten (13 – 22 January 1942)
  • Endrass (12 – 17 June 1942)
  • Panther (6 – 20 October 1942)
  • Veilchen (20 October – 5 November 1942)
  • Kreuzotter (9 – 19 November 1942)
  • Sturmbock (21 – 26 February 1943)
  • Wildfang (26 February – 5 March 1943)
  • Raubgraf (7 – 20 March 1943)
  • Seewolf (24 – 30 March 1943)
  • Adler (7 – 13 April 1943)
  • Meise (13 – 20 April 1943)
  • Specht (21 – 25 April 1943)

Summary of raiding history edit

Date[4] Name of ship Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[4]
8 April 1942 Nemanja   Yugoslavia 5,226 Sunk
21 April 1942 Chenango   Panama 3,014 Sunk
23 June 1942 Torvanger   Norway 6,568 Sunk
13 July 1942 Andrew Jackson   United States 5,990 Sunk
19 July 1942 Baja California   Honduras 1,648 Sunk
21 July 1942 William Cullen Bryant   United States 7,176 Damaged
2 November 1942 Empire Sunrise   United Kingdom 7,459 Sunk

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Baja California (Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-84". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  4. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-84". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 January 2010.

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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • 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 VIIB boat U-84". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 84". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 2 February 2015.