| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-429 |
| Ordered | 25 August 1941 |
| Builder | Danziger Werft,Danzig |
| Yard number | 130 |
| Laid down | 14 September 1942 |
| Launched | 30 March 1943 |
| Commissioned | 14 July 1943 |
| Fate | Destroyed by bombing on 30 March 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 |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 55 421 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-429 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine originally built for theItalianRegia Marina duringWorld War II. Her keel waslaid down on 14 September 1942 byDanziger Werft ofDanzig. She was thencommissioned asS-4 on 14 July 1943 under the command ofTenente di vascello Angelo Amendolia.[1]
Following theItalian armistice on 8 September 1943, theKriegsmarine took possession of theU-429, which was still in German waters, along with theU-428 andU-430. These boats were not deemed advanced or useful enough for full war service, and on 27 October 1943 they were turned over to training flotillas for service in theBaltic Sea, training up submarine crews for dispatch to operating boats, mainly based in France. After a very uneventful service life, theU-429 was caught in an open dock during a U.S.Eighth Air Force raid on the city ofWilhelmshaven on 30 March 1945, and destroyed by bombing, although her crew were not on board at the time of the attack.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-429 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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, twoSiemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8double-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).[2]
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).[2] 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-429 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.[2]
The 2003 filmIn Enemy Hands features a fictionalU-429, which captures the crew of a fictional version ofUSS Swordfish.[3]