German submarine U-969

German submarine U-969 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 29 May 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 169, launched on 11 February 1943 and commissioned on 24 March 1943 under Leutnant zur See Max Dobbert.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-969
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	169
Laid down	29 May 1942
Launched	11 February 1943
Commissioned	24 March 1943
Fate	Sunk on 6 August 1944 in Toulon in position 43°07′N 05°55′E, in an air raid by US Liberator bombers.
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 (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record[1]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 24 March – 30 September 1943 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1943 – 29 February 1944 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 6 August 1944
Identification codes:	M 51 543
Commanders:	Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Max Dobbert 24 March 1943 – 6 August 1944
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 5 October – 6 December 1943 2nd patrol: 18 January – 26 February 1944 3rd patrol: 20 March – 28 April 1944
Victories:	2 merchant ships total loss (14,352 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-969 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[2] 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).^[2]

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).^[2] 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-969 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 24 March 1943, followed by active service on 1 October 1943 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the next five months. She transferred to 29th Flotilla, on 1 March 1944, based in La Spezia, for Mediterranean operations.

Wolfpacks

U-969 took part in seven wolfpacks, namely:

• Siegfried (22 – 27 October 1943)
• Siegfried 1 (27 – 30 October 1943)
• Körner (30 October – 2 November 1943)
• Tirpitz 2 (2 – 8 November 1943)
• Eisenhart 3 (9 – 15 November 1943)
• Schill 2 (17 – 22 November 1943)
• Weddigen (22 November – 4 December 1943)

Fate

U-969 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon in position 43°07′N 05°55′E in an air raid by US Liberator bombers.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate[3]
22 February 1944	George Cleeve	United States	7,176	Total loss
22 February 1944	Peter Skene Ogden	United States	7,176	Total loss

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)