German submarine U-49 (1939)

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-49.
Career (Nazi Germany)
Name: U-49
Ordered: 21 November 1936
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 584
Laid down: 15 September 1938
Launched: 24 January 1939
Commissioned: 12 August 1939
Fate: Sunk, 15 April 1940, near Narvik.
General characteristics
Class and type: Type VIIB U-boat
Displacement: Surfaced 753 tons tons
submerged 857 tons
Length: Overall 66.6 m
pressure hull 48.8 m
Beam: Overall 6.2 m
pressure hull 4.7 m
Draught: 4.74 m
Propulsion: Surfaced: two supercharged MAN, 6 cylinder, 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesels totalling 2,800 - 3,200bhp(2,400 kW). Max rpm: 470-490.
Speed: Surfaced 17.9 knot (33 km/h)
submerged 8 knot (15 km/h)
Range: Surfaced: 16,095 km
submerged: 175 km
Test depth: 230 m (754 ft). Calculated crush depth: 250-295 m (820-967 ft)
Complement: 44 to 48 officers & ratings
Armament:
Service record
Part of: Kriegsmarine:
7th U-boat Flotilla
Identification codes: M 06 383
Commanders: Kurt von Goßler
Operations: 4
Victories: 1 ship sunk for a total of 4,258 gross register tons (GRT)

German submarine U-49 was a Type VIIB U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 21 November 1936 in defiance of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and laid down on 15 September 1938 at the yards of F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel as werk 584. Launched on 24 June 1939, she was commissioned on 12 August 1939 and assigned to the 7th U-Boat Flotilla under the command of Kurt von Goßler.

Contents

War Patrols

First War Patrol

Following training exercises, U-49 departed on its first active patrol on 9 November 1939. She was attacked by allied forces twice during this patrol. On 13 November she was bombed by British aircraft and forced down to 160 meters (525 feet) suffering minor damage. Three days later, U-49 was located by the British destroyers HMS Echo and Wanderer and depth charged. The submarine was forced to dive to 170 meters (557 feet) to escape.

At 09.35 hours on 19 November U-49 came into contact with the 4,258 ton British merchant steamer SS Pensilva carrying a cargo of 6,985 tons of maize. A bow torpedo at 11.15 hours and a stern shot at 11.24 both missed their mark but a third fired at 12.19 hit, and the ship sank slowly by the stern at position . The ship master and crew were picked up by HMS Echo and later landed at Plymouth by HMS Wanderer.

Second War Patrol

U-49's second patrol began 29 February 1940 at Kiel and lasted only six days in the North Sea. No ships were attacked on this patrol, and she made port at Wilhelmshaven on 5 March 1940.

Third War Patrol

On 11 March 1940, U-49 departed Wilhelmshaven for the Norwegian coast, in 19 days at sea no ships were attacked and the submarine returned to Wilhelmshaven on 29 March 1940.

Fourth War Patrol

3 April 1940 saw the beginning of U-49's fourth and final patrol. In thirteen days off the Norwegian coast, no ships were attacked. She was never heard from again.

Fate

On 15 April 1940, U-49 was sunk near Harstad, Norway in position by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Fearless and Brazen. Of her crew of 42, there was one dead and 41 survivors.

Wreck Site

The wreck of U-49 was found on 3 March 1993 by the Norwegian submarine Skolpen. She lies at a depth of 300 meters (984 feet) of water.

External links

See also