German submarine U-485 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-485 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Yard number | 320 |
| Laid down | 3 May 1943 |
| Launched | 15 January 1944 |
| Commissioned | 23 February 1944 |
| Fate | Surrendered at Gibraltar on 12 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight, north of Ireland on 8 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: | None |
The German submarine U-485 was a special type of U-boat used by Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II. It was a Type VIIC U-boat, which was a common and powerful submarine design.
U-485 went on three missions, called patrols, during the war. However, it did not sink any enemy ships. The submarine surrendered in Gibraltar on May 12, 1945, shortly after the war in Europe ended. Later, on December 8, 1945, it was sunk north of Ireland as part of a plan called Operation Deadlight.
Contents
Understanding the U-485's Design
The U-485 was a Type VIIC submarine, a well-known design from World War II. These submarines were built to be strong and effective underwater.
Size and Weight of the U-485
When U-485 was on the surface, it weighed about 769 tonnes (757 long tons). But when it went underwater, its weight increased to about 871 tonnes (857 long tons). The submarine was about 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) long. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) long. It was 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) wide and 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) tall. The part of the submarine that sat below the water, called the draught, was 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in).
How the U-485 Moved
The U-485 used two different types of engines to move. On the surface, it used powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it enough power to travel long distances. When it went underwater, it switched to quiet electric motors. These motors allowed it to move silently beneath the waves. The submarine had two propellers to push it through the water.
Speed and Travel Range
The U-485 could travel at different speeds depending on whether it was on the surface or submerged. On the surface, its top speed was about 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) (knots). Underwater, it was slower, reaching about 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).
It could travel a very long way on the surface, about 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) (nautical miles) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). This was useful for long missions across the ocean. When submerged, it could travel about 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at a slower speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).
How Deep Could it Go?
The submarine was designed to operate safely at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). This is known as its test depth. If it went too deep, the water pressure could become too strong. The deepest it could go before risking damage, called its crush depth, was between 250–295 m (820–968 ft).
Weapons and Crew
The U-485 was armed with several weapons. It had five torpedo tubes, which are tubes used to launch torpedoes. Four were at the front and one was at the back. It could carry 14 torpedoes or 26 mines.
For fighting on the surface, it had an 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. It also had anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes. These included a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 gun and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns. The submarine needed a crew of between 44 and 60 people to operate it.
The U-485's Journey and Service
The building of U-485 began on May 3, 1943, at the Deutsche Werke shipyard in Kiel, Germany. It was officially launched into the water on January 15, 1944. On February 23, 1944, it was ready for service and put under the command of Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Lutz.
The submarine first joined the 5th U-boat Flotilla for training until October 31, 1944. After that, it moved to the 11th U-boat Flotilla on November 1, 1944, for active missions.
First Mission: A Long Journey
U-485 started its first official mission on November 29, 1944, from Bergen, Norway. Before this, it had made short trips from Kiel to Horten Naval Base and then to Bergen.
During this patrol, it traveled west of the Shetland Islands and then west of Ireland. It even entered the English Channel, going as far east as south of Brighton in England. After this long journey, it returned to Bergen on January 30, 1945.
Second Mission: Through the Gap
The submarine began its second mission on March 25, 1945, departing from Trondheim, Norway. This time, its route took it through the GIUK gap, which is the area between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The patrol ended when it arrived at La Pallice in France on April 24.
Final Mission and Surrender
U-485 left La Pallice on its third and final mission on April 29, 1945. However, the war was quickly coming to an end. On May 12, just four days after Germany surrendered, the submarine gave up in Gibraltar.
After its surrender, U-485 was taken to Loch Ryan in Scotland. There, it became part of Operation Deadlight. This operation involved sinking many captured German U-boats. U-485 was sunk on December 8, 1945, north of Ireland. The exact cause of its sinking is not known.
