German Submarine U-879

German submarine ''U-879'' was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II.

Design

German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. ''U-879'' had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . ''U-879'' was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a Flak M42 as well as two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.

Service history

''U-879'' was ordered on 2 April 1942 from DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen under the yard number 1087. Her keel was laid down on 26 June 1943 and the U-boat was launched the following year on 11 January 1944. She was commissioned into service under the command of '' Kapitänleutnant'' Erwin Manchen (Crew 36) in 4th U-boat Flotilla.

''U-879'' was transferred to 33rd U-boat Flotilla after completing training and working up for deployment. She left her base in Horten Naval Base on 9 February 1945 for operations off the US east coast. Since another U-boat, was operating at the same time in the vicinity, it is not clear, which ships were attacked ''U-879'' or the other U-boat, which is missing. The US tanker ''Atlantic States'' was probably hit and damaged on 5 April 1945, while the Belgian steamer ''Belgian Airman'' and the US tanker ''Swiftscout'' may have been sunk by ''U-879'' on 14 and 18 April respectively. The Norwegian tanker ''Katy'' might have been hit and damaged on 23 April.

Late on 29 April, a U-boat was picked up by escorts of convoy KN 382. tried to ram her but missed. ''Natchez'' with three more escorts, , , and , chased the contact for several hours with depth charges and a hedgehog anti-submarine weapon. In the early hours of 30 April, a strong explosion was heard and the contact disappeared. Only in 1968 a wreck was discovered, confirming the sinking of a U-boat. It is assumed that the U-boat in question was ''U-879'', but there are indicators that it might have been ''U-857'' instead.

Summary of raiding history

References

Bibliography

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:U0879
World War II submarines of Germany
German Type IX submarines
1944 ships
U-boats commissioned in 1944
U-boats sunk in 1945
U-boats sunk by depth charges
U-boats sunk by US warships
Ships built in Bremen (state)
Submarines lost with all hands
Maritime incidents in April 1945