NAVYPEDIA

Photo

U459

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
U459		290	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	11.1940	13.9.1941	11/1941	sunk 24.7.1943
U460		291	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	11.1940	13.9.1941	12/1941	sunk 4.10.1943
U461		292	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	12.1940	8.11.1941	1/1942	sunk 30.7.1943
U462		293	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	1.1941	29.11.1941	3/1942	sunk 30.7.1943
U463		294	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	3.1941	20.12.1941	4/1942	sunk 16.5.1943
U464		295	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	3.1941	20.12.1941	4/1942	sunk 20.8.1942
U487		312	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	12.1941	17.10.1942	12/1942	sunk 13.7.1943
U488		313	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	1.1942	17.10.1942	2/1943	sunk 26.4.1944
U489		314	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	1.1942	24.12.1942	3/1943	sunk 4.8.1943
U490		315	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	2.1942	24.12.1942	3/1943	sunk 12.6.1944
U491		322	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	7.1943	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U492		323	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	8.1943	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U493		324	Deutsche Werke, Kiel	9.1943	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U494		744	Germaniawerft, Kiel	11.1943	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U495		745	Germaniawerft, Kiel	11.1943	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U496		746	Germaniawerft, Kiel	2.1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U497		747	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U498		748	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U499		749	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U500		750	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U2201		751	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U2202		752	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U2203		753	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944
U2204		754	Germaniawerft, Kiel	1944	---	---	cancelled 5.1944

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	1668 / 1932
Length, m	67.1
Breadth, m	9.35
Draught, m	6.51
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Germania diesels / 2 SSW electric motors
Power, h. p.	3200 / 750
Max speed, kts	14.9 / 6.2
Fuel, t	diesel oil 203
Endurance, nm(kts)	12350(10) / 55(4)
Armament	2 x 1 - 37/80 SK C/30, 1 x 1 - 20/65 C/38
Military load	423t of diesel oil, 4 torpedoes
Electronic equipment	completed 1941-1942: GHG hydrophone completed 1942-1943: FuMO 30 radar, GHG hydrophone, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite
Complement	53
Diving depth operational, m	100

Graphics

Project history

Transport submarines intended for supply battle boats by all necessary at sea not to endanger them once again on approaches to own bases. Usage of transport submarines allowed to increase action radius of medium submarines of the most widespread VII series and use them in far ocean regions. Originally in the given role usual boats were used, and since 1941 purpose built transport submarines entered service. There were two such series: submarine tankers of XIV series and a submarines - torpedo suppliers of VIIF series.

Submarine tankers intended for supply "the wolf packs" by fuel. They received in Kriegsmarine nickname "milk cows" (Milchkuh). First series of submarines designed and built in days of war. Double-hulled; inter-hull tanks carried 423t of diesel oil for transfer to other submarines, also and containers with four spare torpedoes were placed in superstructure. Own armament under the project consisted from 2 single 37mm guns and 1 single 20mm MG, but since 1943 they had only two twin 20mm MGs.

Submarines were built in three groups, the order on U491-497 has been cancelled during building though availability of some boats reached 75%, and on U498-500 and U2201-2204 before laying down. In battle conditions these boats have appeared rather vulnerable as did not possess sufficient speed and manoeuvrability, and also differed a considerable diving time (40-50sec). All were destroyed by Allied anti-submarine forces.

Modernizations

1942-1943, most survived early built: + FuMO 30 radar, FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite

1943 - 1944, most survived were rearmed with artillery consisted of 1 x 1 - 37/69 FlaK M/42, 2 x 2 - 20/65 C/38

1943-1944, most survived: - FuMB 1 Metox ECM suite; + FuMB 3 Bali, FuMB 6 Palau ECM suites

Naval service

U459 was hard damaged 24.7.1943 by Wellington of 172nd RAF sqn and scuttled by crew NW off Cape Ortegal. U460 was sunk 4.10.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-9 sqn from escort carrier Card N off Azores. U461 was sunk 30.7.1943 by Sunderland of 461st RAAF sqn NW off Cape Ortegal. U462 was sunk 30.7.1943 by British sloops Kite, Wren, Woodcock, Woodpecker and Wild Goose and Halifax of 502nd RAF sqn NW off Cape Ortegal. U463 was sunk 16.5.1943 by Halifax of 58th RAF sqn NW off Cape Ortegal. U464 was hard damaged 20.8.1942 by Catalina of USN VP-73 sqn and scuttled by crew SE off Iceland. U487 was sunk 13.7.1943 by Avengers and Wildcats of USN VC-13 sqn from escort carrier Core in Central Atlantic. U488 was sunk 26.4.1944 by American escort destroyers Frost, Huse, Barber and Snowden in Central Atlantic W off Cape Verde. U489 was sunk 4.8.1943 by Sunderland of 423rd RCAF sqn SE off Iceland. U490 was sunk 12.6.1944 by American escort destroyers Frost, Huse and Inch NW off Azores.