German submarine U-998 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
 U-995 Type VIIC/41 at the Laboe Naval Memorial. This U-boat is almost identical to U-998.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-998 |
| Ordered | 14 October 1941 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 198 |
| Laid down | 5 December 1942 |
| Launched | 18 August 1943 |
| Commissioned | 7 October 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 27 June 1944 |
| Fate | Cannibalized for spare parts and broken up in 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Type VIIC/41 submarine |
| Displacement | |
| 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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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 44-52 officers & ratings |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 52 749 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
She was ordered on 14 October 1941, and was laid down on 5 December 1942, at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 198. She was launched on 18 August 1943, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Fiedler on 7 October 1943.[2]
Design
editGerman Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-998 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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), an overall 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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). 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-998 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and fifty-two.[3]
Service history
editU-998 had been fitted out in May 1944, with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus.[2]
Departing Kiel on 12 June 1944, U-998 left on her first, and only, war patrol. Five days into her patrol U-998 was located on 16 June 1944, west of Bergen, by two Norwegian Mosquito FB Mk XVIII aircraft from 333 Sqdn RAF, piloted by Erling U. Johansen and Lauritz Humlen. They were able to hit the boat with 57mm cannon fire and depth charges which caused severe damage to U-998. She was forced to return to Bergen, Norway, where she was removed from active service due to the damage from the attack. U-998 would be cannibalized for spare parts until being broken up later in 1944.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Fiedler". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-998". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ a b Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
Bibliography
edit- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.