German submarine U-779

U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-779.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-779
Ordered20 January 1941
BuilderKriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven
Yard number162
Laid down21 July 1943
Launched17 June 1944
Commissioned24 August 1944
FateSurrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 17 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 220 m (720 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 17 108
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Johann Stegmann[1]
  • 24 August 1944 – 5 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-779 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 20 January 1941, and was laid down on 21 July 1943, at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 162. She was launched on 17 June 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Johann Stegmann on 24 August 1944.[2]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-779 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-779 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[3]

Service history

U-779 did not participate in any war patrols.[2]

On 5 May 1945, U-779 surrendered at Cuxhaven, Germany. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 24 June 1945, from Wilhelmshaven. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-779 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-779 was towed out and sank on 17 December 1945, by gunfire from the British destroyer HMS Onslow and the frigate HMS Cubitt.[2]

The wreck now lies at 55°50′N 10°05′W / 55.833°N 10.083°W / 55.833; -10.083.[2]

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Johann Stegmann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-779". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography