German submarine U-239
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-239 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Yard number: | 669 |
| Laid down: | 14 May 1942 |
| Launched: | 28 January 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 13 March 1943 |
| Fate: | Damaged in July 1944, broken up in the same year[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Range: | |
| Test depth: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record[2] | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-239 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The submarine was laid down on 14 May 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 669, launched on 28 January 1943 and commissioned on 13 March under the command of Leutnant zur See Ulrich Vöge.[2]
After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, she went to the 22nd flotilla as a 'school' boat and then back to the 5th flotilla.
She was damaged in Kiel by British bombs in July 1944 and broken up in the same year.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-239 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 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).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-239 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
Fate
She was damaged in a British air raid at the Germania Werke in Kiel on 24 July 1944 which also killed one crewman,[4] she was then broken up later that same year.
References
- ↑ Kemp 1999, p. 205.
- 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-239". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 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.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-239". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 239". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.