| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-821 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | Oderwerke,Stettin |
| Yard number | 821 |
| Laid down | 2 October 1941 |
| Launched | 26 June 1943 |
| Commissioned | 11 October 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk by aircraft on 10 June 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| 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 | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 52 715 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-821 was a short-livedType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine, built byOderwerke inStettin duringWorld War II for service in theBattle of the Atlantic. She only participated in two brief combat patrols, one of which ended after four days when she was sunk by allied aircraft.U-821 was built inStettin at a small shipyard, and thus took eighteen months to complete, being ready by October 1943. The boat was of theVIIC Type, which possessed long range cruising capabilities as well as fivetorpedo tubes.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-821 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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, twoBrown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8double-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).[1]
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).[1] 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-821 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), 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 forty-four and sixty.[1]
Following her sea trials and warming-up period,U-821 departedBergen, Norway on 19 March 1944 for her first war patrol, during which she spent 24 fruitless days in the North Atlantic before returning toBrest, France for resupply. Her second patrol was more eventful, as just four days out from Brest and not far fromUshant,Royal Air Force aircraft spotted and attacked theU-boat on the surface. Her captain made the decision to battle it out rather than dive, and engaged in a running firefight with threeMosquito aircraft of248 Squadron and a largeConsolidated Liberator bomber of206 Squadron. One Mosquito was shot down in the clash, but rockets anddepth charges took their toll on the submarine which soon sank, taking with her 50 sailors, in position48°31′N05°11′W / 48.517°N 5.183°W /48.517; -5.183. One survivor was pulled from the sea by small German naval units a few hours later.
The sinking was filmed by gun camera footage on board the attacking aircraft.[2]