Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-859

Type IXD2 submarine

Displacement
1,585 long tons (1,610 t)
Length
87.58 m (287.3 ft)
Beam
7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Complement
55
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-8598 July 1943 — 23 September 1944443 days of the war
Type IXD2 submarine Particulars
Name
U-859
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
15 May 1942
Launched
2 March 1943
Commissioned
8 July 1943
Fate
Sunk on 23 September 1944 (1944)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,585 long tons (1,610 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,771 long tons (1,799 t)
Length
87.58 m (287.3 ft) OA
Beam
7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Draught
5.35 m (17.6 ft)
Speed
20.8 knots (38.5 km/h, 23.9 mph)
Range
12,750 nmi (23,613 km)
Complement
55
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-859 was a Type IXD2 submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen laid her keel on 15 May 1942. She entered service on 8 July 1943, having been launched on 2 March 1943.

Her class ran to 33 ships. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,585 long tons surfaced and 1,771 long tons submerged. She measured 87.6 m (287 ft) long with a beam of 7.5 m (25 ft). Her designed speed was 20.8 knots, and she carried a complement of 55.

Her main battery was one 105 mm (4.1 in) guns.

She was in commission for 443 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 23 September 1944, at 15°10′N 55°18′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 9000 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
  • 24 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 deck gun (150 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

8 more in the class

Sources