U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical toU-779. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-779 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | Kriegsmarinewerft,Wilhelmshaven |
| Yard number | 162 |
| Laid down | 21 July 1943 |
| Launched | 17 June 1944 |
| Commissioned | 24 August 1944 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part ofOperation Deadlight on 17 December 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 17 108 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-779 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
She was ordered on 20 January 1941, and waslaid down on 21 July 1943, atKriegsmarinewerft,Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 162. She waslaunched on 17 June 1944, andcommissioned under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Johann Stegmann on 24 August 1944.[2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-779 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/cdouble-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).[3]
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).[3] 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-779 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes or 26 TMAmines, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between 44 — 52 men.[3]
U-779 did not participate in any war patrols.[2]
On 5 May 1945,U-779 surrendered atCuxhaven, Germany. She was later transferred toLoch Ryan, Scotland on 24 June 1945, fromWilhelmshaven. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war,U-779 was one of 116 selected to take part inOperation Deadlight.U-779 was towed out and sank on 17 December 1945, by gunfire from theBritishdestroyerHMS Onslow and thefrigateHMS Cubitt.[2]
The wreck now lies at55°50′N10°05′W / 55.833°N 10.083°W /55.833; -10.083.[2]