Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-879

Type IXC/40 submarine

Displacement
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft)
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Speed
19 knots (35.2 km/h, 21.9 mph)
Complement
48
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-87919 April 1944 — 30 April 1945374 days of the war
Type IXC/40 submarine Particulars
Name
U-879
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
2 April 1942
Laid down
26 June 1943
Launched
11 January 1944
Commissioned
19 April 1944
Fate
Sunk on 30 April 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,237 long tons (1,257 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft) OA
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Draught
4.67 m (15.3 ft)
Speed
19 knots (35.2 km/h, 21.9 mph)
Range
13,850 nmi (25,650 km)
Complement
48
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-879 was a Type IXC/40 submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen on 26 June 1943. Launched on 11 January 1944, she entered service on 19 April 1944.

142 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,126 long tons surfaced and 1,237 long tons submerged. She measured 76.8 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 6.9 m (23 ft). Her designed speed was 19 knots, and she carried a complement of 48.

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

She was in commission for 374 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 30 April 1945, at 36°34′N 74°00′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
  • 4400 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)
  • 22 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 x twin 2 cm C/30 AA guns

Sister ships

117 more in the class

Sources