German submarine U-988

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-988
Ordered	25 May 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	188
Laid down	2 October 1942
Launched	3 June 1943
Commissioned	15 July 1943
Fate	Sunk on 22 June 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a ; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull ;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines ; 2 × electric motors ;
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);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern); 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines ; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun ;
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla ; 15 July 1943 – 31 May 1944; 7th U-boat Flotilla ; 1 – 22 June 1944;
Identification codes:	M 53 999
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Erich Dobberstein; 15 July 1943 – 22 June 1944;
Operations:	1 patrol:; 22 May – 22 June 1944;
Victories:	None

Last updated July 29, 2024

German submarine U-988 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 2 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 188, launched on 3 June 1943 and commissioned on 15 July 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Erich Dobberstein.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-988 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-988 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

U-988′s career began on 15 July 1943 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. On 8 September 1943, she collided with U-983 in the Baltic Sea north of Loba ( 54°46′N17°14′E / 54.767°N 17.233°E / 54.767; 17.233 ). As a result of the collision, U-983 sank with the loss of five of her 43 crew.^[3]

U-988 began active service on 1 June 1944 as part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla.

Wolfpacks

U-988 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate

U-988 was sunk by depth charges from a US Liberator on 22 June 1944. There were no survivors.^[4]

Previously recorded fate

U-988 sent her last radio message on 18 June, informing about an air attack, and was lost with all hands thereafter, and her fate is not certain.^[5] It is believed that U-988 attacked three ships on 27–29 June and then was sunk on 29/30 June 1944 in the English Channel west of Guernsey at 49°37′N03°41′W / 49.617°N 3.683°W / 49.617; -3.683 at dawn by the Royal Navy frigates HMS Essington, HMS Cooke, HMS Duckworth, and HMS Domett, after being damaged by Royal Air Force Liberators of No. 244 Squadron.^[6]

Alternate fate

There appeared however a theory, that U-988 could have been sunk after an attack of Polish Wellington Mk XIV from 304 Squadron, piloted by Leopold Antoniewicz, which was credited with sinking a submarine on 18 June in the approximate position 49°03′N04°48′W / 49.050°N 4.800°W / 49.050; -4.800 .^[5] Then, the submarine sank on 29/30 June could have been U-1191 .^[5]

Related Research Articles

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German submarine U-226 was a Type VIIC U-boat that served with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. Laid down on 1 August 1941 as yard number 656 at F. Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel, she was launched on 18 June 1942 and commissioned on 1 August under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albrecht Gänge.

German submarine U-247 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 16 December 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 681, launched on 23 September 1943 and commissioned on 23 October under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Matschulat.

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German submarine U-1001 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1010 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1169 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

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References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Erich Dobberstein". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
↑ "U-983". Uboat. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-988". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
1 2 3 Kasperski, Tadeusz (2010). "Tajemnica U-boota Dywizjonu 304" [A mystery of No. 304 Squadron's U-boot]. Morze, Statki i Okręty (in Polish). No. 2(89)/2010. pp. 51–53. ISSN 1426-529X.
↑ "Clearing The Channel: Air Force, Part 33". Legion. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

Bibliography

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.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Kemp, Paul (1997). Ships hit by U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. p. 200. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). Ships hit by U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC U-boat U-988". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

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Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Erich Dobberstein". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-2] 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

[3] "U-983". Uboat. Retrieved 25 April 2012.

[uboat-4] Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-988". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2016.

[kasp-5] 1 2 3 Kasperski, Tadeusz (2010). "Tajemnica U-boota Dywizjonu 304" [A mystery of No. 304 Squadron's U-boot]. Morze, Statki i Okręty (in Polish). No. 2(89)/2010. pp. 51–53. ISSN 1426-529X.

[6] "Clearing The Channel: Air Force, Part 33". Legion. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

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v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in September 1943
Shipwrecks	3 Sep: I-25 4 Sep: USS LCI(L)-339 5 Sep: USS YP-279 7 Sep: Maloja, Velella 8 Sep: Calitea II , Etna , U-983, Vesuvio 9 Sep: Antonio Bajamonti , Cattaro, Conte Verde, Ermanno Carlotto, FR 22 , FR 118 , Lepanto, USS Nauset, Roma, Taranto 10 Sep: HMS Abdiel, Argo, Piero Foscari 11 Sep: Conte di Savoia, Giuseppe La Masa, Pegaso, USS Rowan 12 Sep: Ametista, USS Navajo, U-617 13 Sep: Terra Nova 14 Sep: Giuseppe Sirtori, Katsonis, Newfoundland 15 Sep: Ro-101 16 Sep: Heisternest 18 Sep: Francesco Rismondo 19 Sep: Kansai Maru , U-341 20 Sep: HMCS St. Croix, U-338, U-346 21 Sep: HMS Polyanthus 22 Sep: U-229 23 Sep: Gaetano Donizetti 24 Sep: Francesco Stocco 25 Sep: Giuseppe Sirtori, USS Skill 26 Sep: HMS Intrepid, Vasilissa Olga 27 Sep: Ardena, Enrico Cosenz , U-161, U-221 28 Sep: USS Cisco 30 Sep: Sanct Svithun Unknown date: HMS Gallant, USS Grayling, I-20, I-182, USS LCT-209, K-1, USS Pompano, Sebastiano Caboto, U-669
Other incidents	7 Sep: U-760 8 Sep: USS Bluefish, U-988 9 Sep: Giuseppe Finzi, USS Peto 10 Sep: I-2 11 Sep: USS Savannah 13 Sep: HMHS Newfoundland, HMS Uganda 14 Sep: HMS Warspite 16 Sep: USS Pompon 19 Sep: Tango Maru 23 Sep: Kulmerland 25 Sep: Enrico Cosenz
1942 1943 1944 August 1943 October 1943

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in June 1944
Shipwrecks	1 Jun: USS Herring 3 Jun: U-477, WBS 2 Coburg 5 Jun: V 622 Almuth, USS Osprey 6 Jun: USS Corry, USS LCI(L)-93, Minazuki, USS PC-1261, HNoMS Svenner, V 421 Rauzan, HMS Wrestler 7 Jun: HMS Centurion, Empire Defiance , Hayanami, USS Susan B. Anthony, USS Tide, U-629, U-955 8 Jun: Audacious, Harusame, James Iredell, Kazagumo, HMS Lawford, USS Rich, U-373, U-441, U-970, West Grama 9 Jun: Courbet, Dover Hill, HMS Durban, Empire Bunting, Empire Flamingo , Matsukaze, USS Meredith, HNLMS Sumatra, Tanikaze, Z32, ZH1 10 Jun: USS Glennon, Innsbruck , Mistral, Ro-111, U-821 11 Jun: USS Partridge, Ro-42, U-980 12 Jun: Kainan Maru, HMS Sickle, U-490, V 206 Otto Bröhan, V 212 Friedrich Busse 13 Jun: HMS Boadicea, I-33, Ro-36, U-715 14 Jun: USS Golet 15 Jun: HMS Blackwood, M 507 , PA 1, PA 2, Shiratsuyu, U-860, U-987, V 202 Franz Westermann 16 Jun: I-6, Ro-44, U-998 17 Jun: Ro-114, Ro-117 18 Jun: Albert C. Field, U-767 19 Jun: I-184, Shōkaku, Taihō 20 Jun: Hiyō, HMAS Matafele 21 Jun: Bolzano, HMS Fury 22 Jun: Eurydice, I-185, Sirène 24 Jun: Derrycunihy, I-52, U-971, U-1225 25 Jun: U-269 26 Jun: Aquileia, U-317, U-719, Harugiku Maru 27 Jun: Kizugawa Maru 28 Jun: V 213 Claus Bolten, Kondor , Nerissa 29 Jun: Toyama Maru , Tsugaru, U-988, USS Valor 30 Jun: SS Nikkin Maru , U-478, V 422 Kergroise Unknown date: Bosna , USS LCT-209, U-740
Other incidents	7 Jun: USS Meredith 11 Jun: HMS Halsted 16 Jun: U-998 18 Jun: USS Hawkbill 23 Jun: HMS Scylla 25 Jun: HMS Glasgow, HMS Goodson 26 Jun: Gorizia Unknown date: HMS Sickle, Sonderburg
1943 1944 1945 May 1944 July 1944

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-988
Ordered	25 May 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	188
Laid down	2 October 1942
Launched	3 June 1943
Commissioned	15 July 1943
Fate	Sunk on 22 June 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 15 July 1943 – 31 May 1944 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 – 22 June 1944
Identification codes:	M 53 999
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Erich Dobberstein^[1] 15 July 1943 – 22 June 1944
Operations:	1 patrol: 22 May – 22 June 1944
Victories:	None