German submarine U-989

German submarine U-989 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 189, launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 22 July 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hardo Rodler von Roithberg.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-989
Ordered	25 May 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	189
Laid down	17 October 1942
Launched	16 June 1943
Commissioned	22 July 1943
Fate	Sunk on 14 February 1945
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 22 July 1943 – 31 January 1944 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 February – 30 September 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 14 February 1945
Identification codes:	M 54 065
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg 22 July 1943 – 14 February 1945
Operations:	5 patrols: 1st patrol: 11 January – 4 March 1944 2nd patrol: 6 – 8 June 1944 3rd patrol: 8 – 10 July 1944 4th patrol: a. 9 August – 26 September 1944 b. 28 September – 3 October 1944 c. 3 – 5 February 1945 5th patrol: 7 – 14 February 1945
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (1,791 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (7,176 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-989 displaced 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-989 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 22 July 1943, followed by active service on 1 February 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla. On 1 October 1944 she transferred to 33rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In five patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 1,791 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged one other.

Wolfpacks

U-989 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

• Stürmer (26 January – 3 February 1944)
• Igel 1 (3 – 17 February 1944)
• Hai 1 (17 – 22 February 1944)

Fate

U-989 was sunk on 14 February 1945 in the North Atlantic in position 61°36′N 01°35′W, by depth charges from HMS Bayntun, HMS Braithwaite, HMS Loch Eck and HMS Loch Dunvegan. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate[3]
23 August 1944	Louis Kossuth	United States	7,176	Damaged
26 August 1944	Ashmun J Clough	United Kingdom	1,791	Sunk