German submarine U-298 facts for kids
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|} The German submarine U-298was a special type of U-boatused by Nazi Germanyduring World War II. U-boats were submarines that played a big role in naval battles. This submarine was built by the Bremer Vulkan company. Its construction started on 23 February 1943. It was officially launched into the water on 25 October 1943. The U-298began its service on 1 December 1943, with Ortwin Hensellek as its first commander.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|
| Name | U-298 |
| Ordered | 23 March 1942 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 63 |
| Laid down | 23 February 1943 |
| Launched | 25 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 1 December 1943 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk on 29 November 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC/41 submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| 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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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
What Was U-298 Like?
U-298 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat. This was a common type of submarine used by Germany. It was designed to be strong and effective in the ocean.
Size and Weight
When U-298 was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 759 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed more, about 860 tonnes. The submarine was quite long, measuring about 67.10 meters (220 feet) from end to end. Its widest part was about 6.20 meters (20 feet). It stood about 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall.
How It Moved
The U-298 used two different types of engines to move. On the surface, it had powerful diesel engines. These engines allowed it to travel at a top speed of 17.7 knots (about 32.8 kilometers per hour). When it was underwater, it switched to electric motors. These motors let it move more quietly at a speed of 7.6 knots (about 14.1 kilometers per hour).
The submarine could travel very far. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 kilometers) without needing to refuel. Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) at a slower speed.
How Deep Could It Go?
U-298 was built to dive deep. It could safely operate at depths of up to 230 meters (755 feet). This allowed it to hide from enemy ships and carry out its missions.
Weapons and Crew
The U-298 was equipped with several weapons. It had five torpedo tubes, which are special launchers for torpedoes. Four of these were at the front (bow) and one was at the back (stern). It carried 14 torpedoes in total.
For fighting on the surface or against aircraft, it had:
- One 8.8 cm deck gun
- One 3.7 cm anti-aircraft (AA) gun
- Two 2 cm anti-aircraft (AA) guns
The submarine needed a large crew to operate. It usually had between 44 and 60 people on board, including officers and sailors.
U-298's Journey
U-298 spent its early time training its crew. It was part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla and trained in the Baltic Sea. Ortwin Hensellek was its first commander for a short time. Then, Otto Hohmann took command.
In July 1944, the submarine moved to Bergen, Norway. There, it joined the U-boat School. It continued to be used as a training boat. Heinrich Gehrken became its commander during this period. U-298 stayed in this role until the end of World War II.
The End of Its Service
When the war ended, U-298 was ordered to surrender on 9 May 1945. It was sailed from Bergen, Norway, to Loch Ryan, Scotland, arriving on 4 June 1945.
As part of "Operation Deadlight", many surrendered German U-boats were sunk. U-298 was towed out to sea on 29 November 1945. It was then sunk by shellfire from British warships, HMS Onslow and Cubitt.
See also
