German submarine U-280



German submarine U-280 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 30 April 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 4 January 1943, and commissioned on 13 February 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Walter Hungershausen.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-280 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-280 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
U-280 served with 8th U-boat Flotilla while training, and transferred to 3rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 August 1943 for front-line service.

On 12 October 1943 U-280 sailed from Kiel on her first and only war patrol. On 16 November she was attacked by a British Liberator aircraft of No. 86 Squadron RAF near Convoy HX 265, in position 49.18333°N, -27.53333°W, south-west of Iceland. The first attack missed and the aircraft was hit by flak, knocking out one engine. However the bomber attacked again, sinking U-280 with depth charges. The Liberator safely returned to base on three engines.

Wolfpacks
U-280 operated with the following Wolfpacks during her career:
 * Körner (30 October – 2 November 1943)
 * Tirpitz 3 (2 – 8 November 1943)
 * Eisenhart 3 (9 – 15 November 1943)