German submarine U-299 facts for kids
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|} The German submarine U-299was a special type of U-boat(a German submarine) used by Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II. It was a Type VIIC/41 submarine, known for its strong design. The submarine was built by Bremer Vulkan in Bremen-Vegesack. Its construction started on 1 March 1943. It was officially launched on 6 November 1943. The U-299was ready for duty on 15 December 1943, with Helmuth Heinrich as its first commander. During its time in service, U-299went on six missions, called patrols. It was also part of a "wolfpack", which was a group of submarines hunting together. However, U-299did not sink any ships during its patrols. The submarine surrendered on 9 May 1945, near Kristiansand-Sud. Later, on 4 December 1945, it was sunk as part of an operation called Deadlight. This operation involved sinking many captured German U-boats.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-299 |
| Ordered | 23 March 1942 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan Werft, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 64 |
| Laid down | 1 March 1943 |
| Launched | 6 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 15 December 1943 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 4 December 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: |
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| Victories: | None |
- Early Training and Flotillas
- First Patrols and an Air Attack
- Later Patrols
- Longest Patrol and Surrender
What Was U-299 Like?
U-299 was a Type VIIC/41 submarine. This type was an improved version of earlier German submarines.
Size and Weight
When U-299 was on the surface, it weighed about 759 tonnes (which is like 759 small cars). When it was underwater, it weighed more, about 860 tonnes. The submarine was about 67.10 meters (220 feet) long. That's longer than two basketball courts! Its widest part was about 6.20 meters (20 feet).
How It Moved
The U-299 had two different ways to move. On the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it a top speed of about 17.7 knots (32.8 kilometers per hour or 20.4 miles per hour). When it was underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at about 7.6 knots (14.1 kilometers per hour or 8.7 miles per hour).
How Far Could It Go?
This submarine could travel very far. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 kilometers or 9,780 miles) at a slower speed. That's like going across the Atlantic Ocean and back! Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers or 92 miles) before needing to surface.
How Deep Could It Go?
U-299 was built to dive deep. It could operate safely at depths of up to 230 meters (750 feet). Its "crush depth" was even deeper, between 275 and 325 meters (902 to 1,066 feet). This is the depth where the water pressure would be too strong for the submarine's hull.
Weapons and Crew
The U-299 was well-armed. It had five torpedo tubes, which are like underwater cannons that fire torpedoes. Four were at the front and one was at the back. It carried 14 torpedoes in total. For fighting on the surface, it had a large 8.8 cm deck gun. It also had several anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes. The submarine needed a crew of about 44 to 60 sailors to operate it.
U-299's Journey Through the War
The U-299's time in service involved training and several patrols.
Early Training and Flotillas
When it was first ready in December 1943, U-299 joined the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training. A "flotilla" was a group of naval ships working together. Later, it moved to the 11th U-boat Flotilla in August 1944 for active operations. It then joined the 13th U-boat Flotilla in November and finally the 14th U-boat Flotilla in March 1945.
First Patrols and an Air Attack
U-299's first patrol happened in July 1944. During this mission, it came under attack from an airplane on 16 July. The submarine's commander was injured during this attack. After this, it made a few short trips between different Norwegian ports like Bergen and Kristiansand. Its second patrol, between Kristiansand and Bergen, was quiet and nothing special happened.
Later Patrols
The submarine's third patrol took it far north into the Barents Sea, near Murmansk. Its fourth patrol started in Trondheim and ended in Bogenbrucht, near Narvik. The fifth patrol was a short trip from Bogenbrucht to Trondheim in January 1945.
Longest Patrol and Surrender
U-299's sixth and final patrol was its longest. It started on 24 January 1945 from Trondheim. The submarine traveled through the North Sea and Norwegian Sea. This patrol lasted for 84 days. It finally returned to Kristiansand on 15 April 1945.
Just a few weeks later, on 9 May 1945, U-299 surrendered at Kristiansand-sud. This was at the end of World War II in Europe. As part of the surrender terms, the submarine was taken to Loch Ryan in Scotland. On 4 December 1945, U-299 was towed out to sea by a British ship, HMS Obedient, and was sunk. This was part of Operation Deadlight, where many captured German U-boats were deliberately sunk.
See also
