German submarine U-884
German submarine U-884 was a Type IXD/42 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her construction was ordered on 2 April 1942 and her keel was laid down on 29 August 1943 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen.
| History | |
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| Name: | U-884 |
| Ordered: | 2 April 1942 |
| Builder: | DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen |
| Yard number: | 1092 |
| Laid down: | 29 August 1943 |
| Launched: | 17 May 1944 |
| Commissioned: | Not commissioned |
| Fate: | Bomb damaged on 30 March 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type IXD/42 submarine |
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| Draught: | 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 55-64 men |
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She was launched on 17 May 1944, but was never commissioned, and was badly damaged on 30 March 1945 by United States bombs.[1]
Design
German Type IX/D42 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-884 had a displacement of 1,616 tonnes (1,590 long tons) when at the surface and 1,804 tonnes (1,776 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 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 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 19.2 knots (35.6 km/h; 22.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 31,500 nautical miles (58,300 km; 36,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-884 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.[2]
References
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXD boat U-884". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- Gröner 1991, pp. 74–75.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
