German submarine U-969

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-969
Ordered5 June 1941
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number169
Laid down29 May 1942
Launched11 February 1943
Commissioned24 March 1943
FateSunk on 6 August 1944 in Toulon in position 43°07′N05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E / 43.117; 5.917 , in an air raid by US Liberator bombers.
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
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
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 51 543
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 5 October – 6 December 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 18 January – 26 February 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 20 March – 28 April 1944
Victories: 2 merchant ships total loss
(14,352  GRT)

German submarine U-969 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 29 May 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 169, launched on 11 February 1943 and commissioned on 24 March 1943 under Leutnant zur See Max Dobbert.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-969 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [2] 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie 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). [2]

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). [2] 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-969 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 24 March 1943, followed by active service on 1 October 1943 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the next five months. She transferred to 29th Flotilla, on 1 March 1944, based in La Spezia, for Mediterranean operations.

Wolfpacks

U-969 took part in seven wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-969 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon in position 43°07′N05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E / 43.117; 5.917 in an air raid by US Liberator bombers.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)		Fate [3]
22 February 1944 George Cleeve Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Total loss
22 February 1944 Peter Skene Ogden Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Total loss

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-969". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-969". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2014.

Bibliography

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