| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-269 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan,Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 34 |
| Laid down | 18 September 1941 |
| Launched | 24 June 1942 |
| Commissioned | 19 August 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk, 25 June 1944[1] |
| 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 |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[2][3] | |
| Part of |
|
| Identification codes | M 50 929 |
| Commanders | |
| Operations |
|
| Victories | None |
German submarineU-269 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The U-boat waslaid down on 18 September 1941 byBremer Vulkan at Bremen-Vegesack,launched on 24 June 1942 andcommissioned on 19 August under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinrich Harlfinger.[2]
During its career the submarine failed to sink or damage any vessels, but neither did it lose any crew members prior to its sinking on 25 June 1944.[2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-269 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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, twoAEG GU 460/8–27double-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).[4]
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).[4] 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-269 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
After training with the8th U-boat Flotilla in theBaltic Sea,U-269 was assigned to the11th U-boat Flotilla based inBergen, Norway.[2]
U-269 first leftKiel on 16 March 1943 to operate from bases in Norway, carrying out two patrols in theBarents Sea in the summer of 1943, one under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinrich Harlfinger in March and April, and another underOblt.z.S. Otto Hansen in July, August and September.[3]
Reassigned to the6th U-boat Flotilla, on 4 November 1943 the U-boat left Bergen for her third patrol in the Atlantic under the command of the newly promotedKapitänleutnant Karl-Heinrich Harlfinger. On 1 December Allied forces attacked the U-boat, causing serious damage and forcingU-269 to abort her patrol. She reachedSt. Nazaire on the French Atlantic coast on the 15th.[3]
In France, command was assumed byOberleutnant zur See Georg Uhl, who made one short patrol in theBay of Biscay in May 1944, then sailed from Brest on 6 June ("D-Day") toSt. Peter Port,Guernsey, three days later sailing into theEnglish Channel on her final patrol.[3]
U-269 was sunk on 25 June 1944 south-east ofTorquay, in position50°01′N2°59′W / 50.017°N 2.983°W /50.017; -2.983.[2] The U-boat was detected by theRoyal Navy frigateHMS Bickerton, of the5th Support Group, which immediately attacked withdepth charges. The first attack knocked out all the lights aboard the U-boat, while the second ruptured the seals on the drive shafts, allowing water to rush in. The frigate's third depth charge run destroyed pipes, valves and electrical connections. Realizing that the situation was hopeless, Uhl orderedU-269 to surface, and prepared to abandon and scuttle the boat. The submarine surfaced within range of the frigate, which had just dropped a fourth set of depth charges. The U-boat began to sink immediately, while the survivors swam away or escaped on rafts.Bickerton picked up the 39 survivors.[5] There were 13 dead, including Captain Uhl.
The wreck ofU-269 was located in 1951, during a search for the missing British submarineAffray, this was confirmed by nautical archaeologistInnes McCartney in 1999.[2]
U-269 took part in threewolfpacks, namely:
