German submarine U-280

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Career
Name: U-280
Ordered: 5 June 1941
Builder: Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number: 45
Laid down: 30 April 1942
Launched: 4 January 1943
Commissioned: 13 February 1943
Fate: Sunk, 16 November 1943
General characteristics
Type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement: 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
871 long tons (885 t) submerged
Length: 67.1 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a
50.5 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draft: 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Propulsion: 2 × supercharged Germaniawerft 6-cylinder 4-stroke F46 diesel engines, totalling 2,800–3,200 bhp (2,100–2,400 kW). Max rpm: 470-490
2 × electric motors, totalling 750 shp (560 kW) and max rpm: 296.
Speed: 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range: 15,170 km (8,190 nmi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
150 km (81 nmi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 230 m (750 ft)
Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement: 44–52 officers and ratings
Armament: 5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
14 × G7e torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)
Various AA guns
Service record[1][2]
Part of: 8th U-boat Flotilla
(13 February31 July 1943)
3rd U-boat Flotilla
(1 August16 November 1943)
Commanders: Oblt.z.S. Walter Hungershausen
(13 February 194316 November 1943)
Operations: 1st patrol: 12 October16 November 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-280 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 30 April 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 4 January 1943, and commissioned on 13 February 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Walter Hungershausen.[1]

Service history

U-280 served with 8th U-boat Flotilla while training, and transferred to 3rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 August 1943 for front-line service.[1]

On 12 October 1943 U-280 sailed from Kiel on her first and only war patrol.[2] On 16 November she was attacked by a British Liberator aircraft of No. 86 Squadron RAF near Convoy HX-265, in position 49°11′N 27°32′W / 49.183°N 27.533°W / 49.183; -27.533Coordinates: 49°11′N 27°32′W / 49.183°N 27.533°W / 49.183; -27.533, south-west of Iceland. The first attack missed and the aircraft was hit by flak, knocking out one engine. However the bomber attacked again, sinking U-280 with depth charges. The Liberator safely returned to base on three engines.[1]

U-280 operated with the following Wolfpacks during her career:
'Körner' (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
'Tirpitz 3' (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
'Eisenhart 3' (9 Nov 1943 - 15 Nov 1943)

References

Notes
Bibliography

External links

See also

  • List of German U-boats



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