Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-249

Type VIIC submarine

German submarine U-249
Unknown author — https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/11764/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate Dowódca niemieckiej łodzi podwodnej U-249, porucznik Kock (w białej czapce) i inny oficer pod strażą polskich marynarzy. Widoczny m.in. Leon Blusz (2. z lewej).

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-24920 November 1943 — 10 May 1945537 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-249
Builder
Germaniawerft, Kiel
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
23 January 1943
Launched
23 October 1943
Commissioned
20 November 1943
Fate
Surrendered on 10 May 1945
Scuttled on 13 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.23 m (220.6 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-249 was a Type VIIC submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Germaniawerft, Kiel on 23 January 1943. Launched on 23 October 1943, she entered service on 20 November 1943.

Her class ran to 612 ships. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.2 m (221 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 537 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 10 May 1945, at 56°10′N 10°05′W. 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
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun(220 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources

  • Facts harvested from German submarine U-249 on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Photograph: Unknown author — https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/11764/ — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons