German submarine U-460

Coordinates: 43°18′N 28°58′W / 43.300°N 28.967°W / 43.300; -28.967
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-460
Ordered14 May 1940
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number291
Laid down30 November 1940
Launched13 September 1941
Commissioned24 December 1941
FateSunk by depth charges on 4 October 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
  • 67.10 
    o/a
  • 48.51 m (159 ft 2 in)
    pressure hull
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
  • 2 ×
    anti-aircraft guns
  • 1 ×
    2 cm (0.79 in) C/30
    AA gun
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 47 974
Commanders:
  • Kptlt.
     Friedrich Schäfer
  • 24 December 1941 – 1 August 1942
  • Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor
  • 1 August 1942 – 4 October 1943
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 7 June – 31 July 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 27 August – 12 October 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 11 November – 19 December 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 27 January – 5 March 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 24 April – 25 June 1943
  • b. 23 – 25 August 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 30 August – 4 October 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-460 was a

Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II
.

Her keel was laid down on 30 November 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 291. She was launched on 13 September 1941 and commissioned on 24 December that same year, with Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Schäfer in command. Schäfer was relieved by Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor on 1 August 1942.[2] She carried out training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla before moving on to the 10th and 12th flotillas for operations.

Design

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).[4]

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).

2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-three.[4]

Operational career

U-460 conducted six patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.

First and second patrols

U-460's first patrol started with her departure from

St. Nazaire
in occupied France on 31 July.

Her second foray, which began on 27 August 1942, saw her steam west out of the

Cape Verde Islands
in the South Atlantic.

Third, fourth and fifth patrols

U-460's third patrol was due west from St. Nazaire and lasted 39 days, a typical length.

Her fourth sortie was almost a repeat of her third, except it terminated in Bordeaux.

The U-boat's fifth patrol commenced on 24 April 1943 and lasted 63 days, her longest. It took her to a point almost equidistant with the South American and African coasts. She returned to Bordeaux on 25 June.

Sixth patrol and loss

She left Bordeaux for the last time on 30 August 1943. On 4 October, U-460 was resupplying the submarines U-264, U-422, and U-455[5] in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, when they were attacked by American Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of US Navy squadron VC-9 flying from the escort carrier Card. While the other U-boats submerged and escaped, U-460 was sunk by depth charges in position 43°18′N 28°58′W / 43.300°N 28.967°W / 43.300; -28.967. 62 were killed; two crewmen survived.[2]

References

  1. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 148.
  2. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XIV boat U-460". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-460". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 79.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-455". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2009.

Bibliography

External links

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