German submarine U-979

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-979
Ordered:	5 June 1941
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	179
Laid down:	10 August 1942
Launched:	15 April 1943
Commissioned:	20 May 1943
Fate:	Scuttled on 24 May 1945 at Amrum, Germany
General characteristics
Class & 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
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 (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla (Training) 20 May 1943 – 31 July 1944 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 14 October 1944
Commanders:	Kptlt. Johannes Meermeier 20 May 1943 – 24 May 1945
Operations:	3 patrols
Victories:	1 merchant ship damaged (6,386 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship sunk (348 tons) 1 auxiliary warship damaged (5,969 tons)

German submarine U-979 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 10 August 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 179, launched on 15 April 1943 and commissioned on 20 May 1943 under Kapitänleutnant Johannes Meermeier.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-979 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-979 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th Flotilla on 20 May 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla.

Wolfpacks

U-979 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate

U-979 was scuttled on 24 May 1945 at Amrum, Germany at after running aground.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
22 September 1944	USS Yukon	United States Navy	5,969	Damaged
2 May 1945	HMS Ebor Wyke	Royal Navy	348	Sunk
5 May 1945	Empire Unity	United Kingdom	6,386	Damaged