History | |
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Name | U-990 |
Ordered | 25 May 1941 |
Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
Yard number | 190 |
Laid down | 17 October 1942 |
Launched | 16 June 1943 |
Commissioned | 28 July 1943 |
Fate | Sunk on 25 May 1944 in theNorwegian Sea by depth charges from a RAFLiberator bomber |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIICsubmarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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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 54 093 |
Commanders: | |
Operations: |
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Victories: | 1 warship sunk (1,920 tons) |
German submarineU-990 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 17 October 1942 byBlohm & Voss,Hamburg as yard number 190,launched on 16 June 1943 andcommissioned on 28 July 1943 underKapitänleutnant Hubert Nordheimer.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-990 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, and 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).[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-990 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 one twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acrew sized between forty-four and sixty.[2]
The boat's career began with training at5th Flotilla on 28 July 1943, followed by active service on 1 January 1944 as part of the11th Flotilla.
U-990 took part in fourwolfpacks, namely:
U-990 was sunk on 25 May 1944 in theNorwegian Sea at65°05′N07°28′E / 65.083°N 7.467°E /65.083; 7.467 after being depth charged by a RAFLiberator bomber of59 Squadron.
Sqn Ldr B. Sisson sightedU-990 on the surface at 06:23 and attacked under cover of a rain squall, dropping six depth charges. Following the attack, the submarine could be seen sinking amid a large oil slick.[3]
There were 20 crew killed, and 33 survivors.
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[4] |
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25 February 1944 | HMS Mahratta | ![]() | 1,920 | Sunk |