History
Nazi Germany
NameU-459
Ordered14 May 1940
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number290
Laid down22 November 1940
Launched13 September 1941
Commissioned15 November 1941
FateScuttled on 24 July 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType XIV ocean-going submarine tanker
Displacement
  • 1,688 t (1,661 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,932 t (1,901 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in) o/a
  • 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height11.70 m (38 ft 5 in)
Draught6.51 m (21 ft 4 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
Speed
  • 14.4–14.9 knots (26.7–27.6 km/h; 16.6–17.1 mph) surfaced
  • 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h; 7.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 12,350 nmi (22,870 km; 14,210 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth240 m (790 ft)
Complement6 officers and 47 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf
  • 15 November 1941 – 24 July 1943
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 29 March – 15 May 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 June – 19 July 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 18 August – 4 November 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 20 December 1942 – 7 March 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 20 April – 3 June 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 22 – 24 July 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-459 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat (Milchkuh or 'milk cow') of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 22 November 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 290. The submarine was launched on 13 September 1941 and commissioned on 15 November, with Kapitänleutnant Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff in command; he remained in charge until the boat was lost, receiving promotion to Korvettenkapitän in the process.[2]

Design

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-459 had a displacement of 1,688 tonnes (1,661 long tons) when at the surface and 1,932 tonnes (1,901 long tons) while submerged.[3] The U-boat had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.51 m (159 ft 2 in), a beam of 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in), a height of 11.70 m (38 ft 5 in), and a draught of 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2,800–3,200 metric horsepower (2,060–2,350 kW; 2,760–3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 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 propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 240 metres (790 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 14.4–14.9 knots (26.7–27.6 km/h; 16.6–17.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h; 7.1 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,350 nautical miles (22,870 km; 14,210 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-459 was not fitted with torpedo tubes or deck guns, but had two 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-three.[3]

Operational career

U-459 conducted six patrols, but as a supply boat, she avoided combat.[4] The submarine initially served in the 4th U-boat Flotilla, for training, before moving on to the 10th (in April 1942) and the 12th flotillas (in November of the same year), for operations.

First and second patrols

Having moved from Kiel to Helgoland U-459 set-off for occupied France, arriving in St. Nazaire on 15 May 1942, after traversing the north-central Atlantic. Her captain, von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf, was 48, one of the oldest skippers at the time.

Her second patrol began on 6 June 1942. It was at about this time that von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf was promoted to Korvettenkapitän.

Third and fourth patrols

Her third foray saw the boat sail into the south Atlantic, as far as Namibia. She departed St. Nazaire on 18 August 1942 and returned on 4 November.

Her fourth patrol was her longest, from 20 December 1942 to 7 March 1943, a total of 78 days. She started in St. Nazaire and finished in Bordeaux. This voyage included sailing toward Cameroon, the boat's nearest position to that country was reached on 18 January 1943. On 4 September 1942 U-459 shared rations with the survivors in a lifeboat from the sunken freighter SS California which had been torpedoed by Italian sub Reginaldo Giuliani 13 August 1942[5]

Fifth and sixth patrols and loss

Her fifth patrol began when she left Bordeaux on 20 April 1943. On 30 May, she shot down a British Whitley aircraft of (10 OTU RAF) (Crew rescuded).[2] She was also attacked, on the same day, by an RAF Liberator with a total of ten depth charges. U-459 was not damaged but her AA guns caused slight damage to the attacking Liberator.[2]

U-459 sinking after being attacked by Vickers Wellington aircraft

She returned to her French base on 30 May.

Having left Bordeaux on 22 July 1943, U-459 was attacked by two British Wellington aircraft of No. 172 Squadron RAF near Cape Ortegal, Spain on 24 July. The boat shot one of the Wellingtons down (5 KIA 1 survived), but 18 submarine crewmen were killed and she was so badly damaged by a Wellington of No. 547 Squadron RAF that was damaged by heavy flak barrage and crashed into the starboard side of the boat; the damage was so severe that she had to be scuttled. The rear gunner of the Wellington, Sergeant A A Turner, was the only survivor of the plane. Author Norman Franks writes that Commander von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff was seen on the bridge, saluting his crew before disappearing into the conning tower hatch to complete the scuttling. He seemingly made no attempt to escape, going down with his command.[6] 41 of her crew survived to be taken prisoner.[2]

Wolfpacks

U-459 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

  • Eisbär (25 August – 1 September 1942)

References

  1. ↑ Kemp 1999, p. 134.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XIV boat U-459". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 79.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-459". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  5. ↑ U-Boat archive
  6. ↑ Franks, Norman L.R. (1997). Dark sky, deep water. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 41. ISBN 978-1442232853. Retrieved 6 August 2023.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

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