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German submarine U-988

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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-988
Ordered25 May 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number188
Laid down2 October 1942
Launched3 June 1943
Commissioned15 July 1943
FateSunk on 22 June 1944
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 53 999
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Dobberstein[1]
  • 15 July 1943 – 22 June 1944
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 22 May – 22 June 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-988 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 2 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 188, launched on 3 June 1943 and commissioned on 15 July 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Erich Dobberstein.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-988 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-988 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

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U-988′s career began on 15 July 1943 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. On 8 September 1943, she collided with U-983 in the Baltic Sea north of Loba (54°46′N 17°14′E / 54.767°N 17.233°E / 54.767; 17.233). As a result of the collision, U-983 sank with the loss of five of her 43 crew.[3]

U-988 began active service on 1 June 1944 as part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla.

Wolfpacks

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U-988 took part in no wolfpacks.

Fate

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U-988 was sunk by depth charges from a US Liberator on 22 June 1944. There were no survivors.[4]

Previously recorded fate

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U-988 sent her last radio message on 18 June, informing about an air attack, and was lost with all hands thereafter, and her fate is not certain.[5] It is believed that U-988 attacked three ships on 27–29 June and then was sunk on 29/30 June 1944 in the English Channel west of Guernsey at 49°37′N 03°41′W / 49.617°N 3.683°W / 49.617; -3.683 at dawn by the Royal Navy frigates HMS Essington, HMS Cooke, HMS Duckworth, and HMS Domett, after being damaged by Royal Air Force Liberators of No. 244 Squadron.[6]

Alternate fate

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There appeared however a theory, that U-988 could have been sunk after an attack of Polish Wellington Mk XIV from 304 Squadron, piloted by Leopold Antoniewicz, which was credited with sinking a submarine on 18 June in the approximate position 49°03′N 04°48′W / 49.050°N 4.800°W / 49.050; -4.800.[5] Then, the submarine sank on 29/30 June could have been U-1191.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Erich Dobberstein". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ "U-983". Uboat. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-988". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Kasperski, Tadeusz (2010). "Tajemnica U-boota Dywizjonu 304" [A mystery of No. 304 Squadron's U-boot]. Morze, Statki i Okręty (in Polish). No. 2(89)/2010. pp. 51–53. ISSN 1426-529X.
  6. ^ "Clearing The Channel: Air Force, Part 33". Legion. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2016.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
  • 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 (1997). Ships hit by U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. p. 200. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). Ships hit by U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
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