| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-759 |
| Ordered | 9 October 1939 |
| Builder | Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven |
| Yard number | 142 |
| Laid down | 15 November 1940 |
| Launched | 30 May 1942 |
| Commissioned | 15 August 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 15 July 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1][2] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 46 926 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 2 merchant ships sunk (12,764 GRT) |
German submarineU-759 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The submarine waslaid down on 15 November 1940 at theKriegsmarinewerft yard atWilhelmshaven,launched on 30 May 1942, andcommissioned on 15 August 1942 under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Rudolf Friedrich.[1]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-759 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-759 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.[3]
After training with5th U-boat Flotilla atKiel, Germany, on 1 February 1943U-759 was transferred to9th U-boat Flotilla, based inBrest, France, for front-line service. She sailed on two combat patrols and sank two ships totalling 12,764 gross register tons (GRT).U-759 was sunk east ofJamaica on 15 July 1943 by depth charges from a US NavyMarinerpatrol bomber. All hands were lost.[1]
U-759 first sailed from Kiel on 2 February 1943, and out into the Atlantic, south ofGreenland. She had no successes, and arrived atLorient, France on 14 March after 41 days.[4]
U-759 left Lorient on 7 June 1943 and sailed across the Atlantic to theCaribbean Sea.[5] There on 5 July, about 70 nautical miles (130 km) west ofPort-Salut,Haiti, she torpedoed the 3,513 GRT American merchant shipMaltran, part of Convoy GTMO-134. The ship sank in 15 minutes, but all 47 aboard escaped in lifeboats, and were picked up byUSS SC-1279.[6]
Two days later, on 7 July, the U-boat torpedoed and sank the 9,251 GRT Dutch cargo shipPoelau Roebiah, in convoy TAG-70, east ofJamaica. All but two of the 68 crew, along with 24 armed guards and 31 US passengers abandoned ship in four lifeboats and were later rescued.[7] After sinking the Dutch ship the U-boat was pursued and attacked by the United States destroyerTattnall (DD-125), but escaped.[1] The next day, 8 July,U-759 was spotted and attacked by aUnited States Navy scout aircraft. Allied surface ships attacked for seven hours, but the U-boat evaded them and escaped unharmed.[1]
U-759 was sunk on 15 July 1943 by depth charges from a US NavyMariner aircraft from SquadronVP-32 in the Caribbean, in approximate position15°58′N73°44′W / 15.967°N 73.733°W /15.967; -73.733. All 47 crew were lost.[1]
U-759 took part in onewolfpack, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 July 1943 | Maltran |  United States | 3,513 | Sunk |
| 7 July 1943 | Poelau Roebiah |  Netherlands | 9,251 | Sunk |
