Wikipedia

German submarine U-679

German submarine U-679 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 3 September 1942 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Hamburg as yard number 828, launched on 18 September 1943 and commissioned on 29 November 1943 under Leutnant zur See Friedrich Breckwoldt.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-679
Ordered5 June 1941
BuilderHowaldtswerke, Hamburg
Yard number828
Laid down3 September 1942
Launched18 September 1943
Commissioned29 November 1943
FateSunk on or 9 January 1945 in the Baltic Sea at 59°26′N 24°07′E / 59.433°N 24.117°E / 59.433; 24.117 by depth charges from Soviet A/S vessel MO-124
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 53 677
Commanders:
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Breckwoldt[1]
  • 29 November 1943 – 20 October 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Eduard Aust[2]
  • 21 October 1944 – 9 January 1945
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 11 – 16 July 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 18 July – 10 September 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 2 November 1944 – 9 January 1945
Victories:
  • 1 warship sunk
    (39 tons)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (36 tons)

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-679 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), 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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).[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-679 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

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The boat's career began with training at 31st Flotilla on 29 November 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1944 as part of the 8th Flotilla. U-679 took part in no wolfpacks. U-679 was presumed sunk on 9 January 1945 in the Baltic Sea at 59°26′N 24°07′E / 59.433°N 24.117°E / 59.433; 24.117 by depth charges from Soviet anti-submarine vessel MO-124. However, the wreckage was located in August 2015 and initial reports suggest that actually U-679 had run into a mine and sank after that. Wreckage lies at depth of 90 metres at a location, which is somewhat different from the information given earlier.[4][5]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[6]
15 July 1944 TK-57   Soviet Navy 36 Damaged
18 November 1944 SK-62   Soviet Navy 39 Sunk

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Friedrich Breckwoldt". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Eduard Aust". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Suunto: www.suunto.com/sports/News-Articles-container-page/U-boat-U679/, accessdate: 17. September 2015
  5. ^ yle.fi: Finnish diver finds sub from WWII | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi, accessdate: 17. September 2015
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-679". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

Bibliography

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  • 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, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. p. 228. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
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