The boat began training on 22 March with the 5th U-boat Flotilla but moved on to the 11th flotilla for operations.
She was one of nine Type VIIs that the Kriegsmarine fitted with an experimental synthetic rubber skin of anechoic tiles known as Alberich, which had been designed to counter the Allies' asdic/sonar devices.[1]
Her remains were positively identified in March 2013 after they were found during oil exploration operations off the coast of Norway, not far from the remains of U-864.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-486 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 superchargeddiesel 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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 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-486 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The submarine moved to Horten Naval Base in Norway between 6 and 9 November 1944 and then Egersund, (also in Norway, on the southwest coast, between Stavanger and Kristiansand), arriving there on 20 November.
First patrol
She departed Egersund on her first patrol on 26 November 1944, taking a circuitous route around the British Isles to the Western Approaches. The U-boat claimed her first victim south of the Eddystone Lighthouse by sinking the Silverlaurel on 18 December. She then attacked the 11,509 GRTLeopoldville on 24 December five miles off the coast of Cherbourg, France. This resulted in the death of over 750 Allied soldiers (819 total deaths). The Leopoldville sank about two hours later.[3] She crippled the US-built but British manned frigate HMS Affleck on the 26th. She also sank HMS Capel, another frigate, on the same day.[4]
In early 2013, the wreck of U-486 was discovered by the Norwegian petroleum company Statoil at a depth of 250 metres (820 ft), off the coast of Western Norway. The wreck of U-486 is located c. 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from that of the fellow German submarine U-864.[6]
^Hamilton, Aaron S. (30 May 2020). "Acoustic camouflage". Total Undersea War: The Evolutionary Role of the Snorkel in Dönitz's U-Boat Fleet, 1944-1945. Seaforth Publishing. pp. 104–118. ISBN978-1-5267-7883-3.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-486". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-486". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
^"Nazi submarine wreck found off Norway". TheLocal.no. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-486". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, deutsche, werke, kiel, yard, number, launched, february, 1944, commissioned, march, with, oberleutnant, gerhard, meyer, command, historynazi, germanyna. German submarine U 486 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down at the Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 321 launched on 12 February 1944 and commissioned on 22 March with Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Meyer in command HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 486Ordered5 June 1941BuilderDeutsche Werke KielYard number321Laid down8 May 1943Launched12 February 1944Commissioned22 March 1944FateSunk on 12 April 1945 in the North Sea north west of Bergen Norway General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 23 m 220 ft 7 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 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 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 AA gun 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService recordPart of 5th U boat Flotilla 22 March 31 October 1944 11th U boat Flotilla 1 November 1944 12 April 1945Commanders Oblt z S Gerhard Meyer 22 March 12 April 1945Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 26 November 1944 15 January 1945 2nd patrol 9 12 April 1945Victories 2 merchant ships sunk 17 651 GRT 1 warship sunk 1 085 tons 1 warship total loss 1 085 tons The boat began training on 22 March with the 5th U boat Flotilla but moved on to the 11th flotilla for operations She was one of nine Type VIIs that the Kriegsmarine fitted with an experimental synthetic rubber skin of anechoic tiles known as Alberich which had been designed to counter the Allies asdic sonar devices 1 Her remains were positively identified in March 2013 after they were found during oil exploration operations off the coast of Norway not far from the remains of U 864 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 First patrol 2 2 Second patrol 3 Summary of raiding history 4 Discovery of wreck 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Citations 7 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 486 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 Siemens Schuckert GU 343 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 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 486 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 one 3 7 cm 1 5 in Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft guns The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 2 Service history EditThe submarine moved to Horten Naval Base in Norway between 6 and 9 November 1944 and then Egersund also in Norway on the southwest coast between Stavanger and Kristiansand arriving there on 20 November First patrol Edit She departed Egersund on her first patrol on 26 November 1944 taking a circuitous route around the British Isles to the Western Approaches The U boat claimed her first victim south of the Eddystone Lighthouse by sinking the Silverlaurel on 18 December She then attacked the 11 509 GRT Leopoldville on 24 December five miles off the coast of Cherbourg France This resulted in the death of over 750 Allied soldiers 819 total deaths The Leopoldville sank about two hours later 3 She crippled the US built but British manned frigate HMS Affleck on the 26th She also sank HMS Capel another frigate on the same day 4 She was unsuccessfully attacked by a Canadian Vickers Wellington of 407 Squadron RCAF on 30 December She returned to Norway this time to Bergen on 15 January 1945 Second patrol Edit The boat departed Bergen on 9 April 1945 but was sunk by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Tapir on 12 April Summary of raiding history EditDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 5 18 December 1944 Silverlaurel United Kingdom 6 142 Sunk24 December 1944 Leopoldville Belgium 11 509 Sunk26 December 1944 HMS Affleck Royal Navy 1 085 Total loss26 December 1944 HMS Capel Royal Navy 1 085 SunkDiscovery of wreck EditIn early 2013 the wreck of U 486 was discovered by the Norwegian petroleum company Statoil at a depth of 250 metres 820 ft off the coast of Western Norway The wreck of U 486 is located c 2 kilometres 1 2 mi from that of the fellow German submarine U 864 6 See also EditGerman submarine U 480References EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit Hamilton Aaron S 30 May 2020 Acoustic camouflage Total Undersea War The Evolutionary Role of the Snorkel in Donitz s U Boat Fleet 1944 1945 Seaforth Publishing pp 104 118 ISBN 978 1 5267 7883 3 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 History com Accessed February 10 2009 Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 486 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 28 December 2014 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 486 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 28 December 2014 Nazi submarine wreck found off Norway TheLocal no Agence France Presse Retrieved 6 April 2013 Bibliography EditBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll 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 Groner 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 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 486 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 28 December 2014 1 Coordinates 60 44 N 4 39 E 60 733 N 4 650 E 60 733 4 650 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 486 amp oldid 1129488822, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
