German submarine U-291 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-291
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number	56
Laid down	17 October 1942
Launched	30 June 1943
Commissioned	4 August 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 5 May 1945 Sunk by HMS Onslaught off Northern Ireland on 20 December 1945
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
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	21st U-boat Flotilla 4 – 31 August 1943 23rd U-boat Flotilla 1 September 1943 – 1 July 1944 21st U-boat Flotilla 1 July 1944 – 28 February 1945 31st U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 5 May 1945
Commanders:	Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Hans Keerl 4 August – 30 September 1943 Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Stege 1 October 1943 – 16 July 1944 Oblt.z.S. Hermann Neumeister 17 July 1944 – 5 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

The German submarine U-291 was a special kind of U-boat (a German submarine) used by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was a Type VIIC submarine, which was a very common type of U-boat.

This submarine was built in Bremen-Vegesack, Germany. Its construction started on 17 October 1942. It was officially launched into the water on 30 June 1943. The U-291 was ready for duty on 4 August 1943, under the command of a leader named Hans Keerle.

Interestingly, U-291 never went on any combat missions. It also did not sink or damage any enemy ships during the war. The submarine surrendered on 5 May 1945, near the end of the war, in a place called Cuxhaven. Later, on 20 December 1945, it was sunk as part of an operation called Deadlight.

What Was the U-291 Like?

The U-291 was a Type VIIC submarine, a very important design for the German navy. When it was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 769 tonnes. But when it was underwater, it weighed more, around 871 tonnes.

Size and Shape

This submarine was about 67.10 meters (around 220 feet) long overall. Its main body, called the pressure hull, which keeps the water out, was about 50.50 meters long. The widest part of the submarine was 6.20 meters (about 20 feet). It stood about 9.60 meters (around 31 feet) tall. The part of the submarine that was underwater, called the draught, was about 4.74 meters (around 15 feet) deep.

How it Moved

The U-291 had two different ways to move. On the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines could make the submarine go as fast as 17.7 knots (about 32.8 kilometers per hour or 20.5 miles per hour). When it was underwater, it used two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at a speed of 7.6 knots (about 14.1 kilometers per hour or 8.7 miles per hour).

The submarine could travel a long way without needing to refuel. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (around 15,742 kilometers) at a speed of 10 knots. Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (around 148 kilometers) at 4 knots. The U-291 was built to dive deep, safely reaching depths of up to 230 meters (about 755 feet).

Weapons and Crew

The U-291 was armed with several weapons. It had five torpedo tubes, which are used to fire torpedoes. Four of these tubes were at the front (bow) and one was at the back (stern). It could carry 14 torpedoes.

For fighting on the surface or against aircraft, it also had:

• One large 8.8 cm deck gun
• One 3.7 cm anti-aircraft gun
• Two twin 2 cm anti-aircraft guns

The submarine usually had a crew of between 44 and 60 people, including officers and enlisted sailors.

U-291's Journey and End

The U-291 spent its time in different training and trial groups (called flotillas) during the war.

• From August to September 1943, it was with the 21st U-boat Flotilla for training.
• From September 1943 to July 1944, it was a trial boat with the 23rd U-boat Flotilla.
• From July 1944 to February 1945, it returned to the 21st Flotilla as a 'school' boat, likely for training new crews.
• Its last assignment was with the 31st U-boat Flotilla from March to May 1945.

As World War II was ending, the U-291 surrendered at Cuxhaven on 5 May 1945. It was then moved to Scotland. On 20 December 1945, the submarine was intentionally sunk by the guns of a British ship, Onslaught|G04|6, off the coast of Northern Ireland. This was part of an effort to get rid of captured German U-boats after the war, known as Operation Deadlight.