German submarine U-483 facts for kids
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|} The German submarine U-483was a special type of U-boat(submarine) used by Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II. It was a Type VIIC U-boat, known for being a very common and effective design. U-483went on two important missions, called patrols. During one of these patrols, it caused a British warship to be so badly damaged that it was declared a total loss. The submarine surrendered at the end of the war on May 9, 1945. Later, on December 16, 1945, it was sunk as part of a special operation called Deadlight.
Contents
- How Big Was U-483?
- Power and Speed of the Submarine
- How Far Could U-483 Travel?
- Weapons on Board U-483
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-483 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Yard number | 318 |
| Laid down | 20 March 1943 |
| Launched | 30 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 22 December 1943 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 9 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 16 December 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC 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: | 1 warship total loss (1,300 tons) |
Understanding the U-483 Design
German Type VIIC submarines were a key part of the German navy. These submarines were designed to be strong and effective underwater. U-483 was a good example of this type.
How Big Was U-483?
When U-483 was on the surface, it weighed about 769 tonnes (757 long tons). When it was underwater, it weighed more, around 871 tonnes (857 long tons). The submarine was quite long, measuring about 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) from end to end. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) long.
It was about 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) wide and stood 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) tall. The part of the ship that was underwater, called the draught, was 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) deep.
Power and Speed of the Submarine
U-483 used two powerful diesel engines when it was on the surface. These engines gave it a lot of power, between 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp). When it went underwater, it switched to two electric motors, which produced 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) of power.
The submarine had two propellers, each about 1.23 m (4 ft) wide. It could travel at a top speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) (knots) on the surface. Underwater, it was slower, reaching about 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).
How Far Could U-483 Travel?
U-483 could travel very far. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) (nautical miles) if it kept a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Underwater, its range was shorter, about 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).
The submarine was built to dive deep, safely reaching depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). Its deepest possible depth before risking damage was between 250–295 m (820–968 ft).
Weapons on Board U-483
U-483 was well-armed for its missions. It had five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes. Four of these were at the front (bow) and one was at the back (stern). It carried fourteen torpedoes, or it could carry 26 mines instead.
For fighting on the surface, it had an 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun with 220 rounds of ammunition. It also had several anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes: one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 guns. The crew, or complement, usually had between 44 and 60 sailors.
U-483 Service History
The building of U-483 started when its keel was laid on March 20, 1943, at Deutsche Werke in Kiel, Germany. It was given the number 318. The submarine was officially launched into the water on October 30, 1943. It was then commissioned (put into active service) on December 22, 1943, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans-Joachim von Morstein.
The submarine first joined the 5th U-boat Flotilla for training from December 22, 1943, to July 31, 1944. After that, it moved to the 3rd flotilla for active operations starting August 1, 1944. Finally, on September 5, 1944, it was reassigned to the 11th flotilla.
First Patrol: An Eventful Journey
U-483's first real mission began on October 3, 1944, when it left Stavanger, Norway. Before this, it made short trips from Kiel to Horten Naval Base and then to Stavanger.
During this patrol, on October 12, a device called a Schnorchel failed northwest of Scotland. A Schnorchel allows a submarine to run its diesel engines and get fresh air while still submerged, just below the surface. Sadly, this failure led to the death of one crew member.
A major event happened on November 1, 1944. U-483 fired a torpedo at the British frigate HMS Whitaker off Malin Head, Ireland. The front part of the British ship was blown off. The ship's commander, all other officers, and 84 sailors died. Even though the ship did not sink, it was badly damaged. Fires were put out and flooding was stopped. The ship was later towed to Londonderry Port and then to Belfast, but it was declared a total loss, meaning it could not be repaired.
Second Patrol: Into the Irish Sea
After its first patrol, U-483 was based at Bergen, Norway. It started its second patrol from there on February 7, 1945. Some reports suggest that the submarine managed to enter the Irish Sea during this mission. The patrol ended when the boat returned to Trondheim on March 26.
The Fate of U-483
U-483 surrendered in Trondheim, Norway, on May 9, 1945, as World War II was ending. It was then moved to Scapa Flow and later to Loch Ryan in Scotland on May 29. This was part of a plan called Operation Deadlight.
What Was Operation Deadlight?
Operation Deadlight was a plan by the Allied forces (the countries that fought against Germany) to sink the surrendered German U-boats. This was done to prevent them from ever being used again. U-483 was sunk as part of this operation on December 16, 1945. The exact reason for its sinking on that day is not known.
Summary of U-483's Actions
Here is a quick look at the main event during U-483's patrols:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 November 1944 | HMS Whitaker |  Royal Navy |
1,300 | Total loss |
