German submarine U-979

German submarine U-979 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 10 August 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 179, launched on 15 April 1943 and commissioned on 20 May 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Johannes Meermeier.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-979
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	179
Laid down	10 August 1942
Launched	15 April 1943
Commissioned	20 May 1943
Fate	Scuttled on 24 May 1945 at Amrum, Germany
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 20 May 1943 – 31 July 1944 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 14 October 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 15 October 1944 – 24 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 52 107
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Johannes Meermeier[1] 20 May 1943 – 24 May 1945
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 14 August – 10 October 1944 2nd patrol: a. 9 November 1944 – 16 January 1945 b. 26 – 29 March 1945 3rd patrol: 29 March – 24 May 1945
Victories:	1 auxiliary warship sunk (348 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (6,386 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship damaged (5,969 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-979 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), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel 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, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-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-979 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th Flotilla on 20 May 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla, then as part of the 11th Flotilla until she was scuttled.

Wolfpacks

U-979 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate

U-979 was scuttled on 24 May 1945 at Amrum, Germany at 54°38′N 08°23′E after running aground.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate[3]
22 September 1944	USS Yukon	United States Navy	5,969	Damaged
2 May 1945	HMT Ebor Wyke	Royal Navy	348	Sunk
5 May 1945	Empire Unity	United Kingdom	6,386	Damaged

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Johannes Meermeier". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
2. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-979". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

Bibliography

• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
• Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC U-boat U-979". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015.