German submarine U-989

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-989
Ordered:	25 May 1941
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	189
Laid down:	17 October 1942
Launched:	16 June 1943
Commissioned:	22 July 1943
Fate:	Sunk 14 February 1945 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from HMS Bayntun, HMS Bratwaite, HMS Loch Eck and HMS Loch Dunvegan.
General characteristics
Class & 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 (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 22 July 1943 – 31 January 1944 - Training 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 February – 30 September 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 14 February 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg 22 July 1943 – 14 February 1945
Operations:	1st patrol: 11 January – 4 March 1944 2nd patrol: 6–8 June 1944 3rd patrol: 8–10 July 1944 4th patrol: 9 August – 26 September 1944 5th patrol: 7–14 February 1945
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (1,791 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (7,176 GRT)

German submarine U-989 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 189, launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 22 July 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hardo Rodler von Roithberg.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-989 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-989 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 22 July 1943, followed by active service on 1 February 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla. On 1 October 1944 she transferred to 33rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In five patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 1,791 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged one other.

Wolfpacks

U-989 took part in three wolfpacks, namely

• Stürmer (26 January – 3 February 1944)
• Igel 1 (3–17 February 1944)
• Hai 1 (17–22 February 1944)

Fate

U-989 was sunk on 14 February 1945 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from HMS Bayntun, HMS Bratwaite, HMS Loch Eck and HMS Loch Dunvegan. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
23 August 1944	Louis Kossuth	United States	7,176	Damaged
26 August 1944	Ashmun J Clough	United Kingdom	1,791	Sunk