German submarine U-284

German submarine U-284 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 1 July 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 49. She was launched on 6 March 1943 and commissioned on 14 April under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günter Scholz.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-284 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-284 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-284 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from April to October 1943 and operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 November. She carried out one patrol, sinking no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.

Patrol
The boat's only patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 23 November 1943. She passed between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean. She was scuttled southeast of Greenland on 21 December 1943, after sustaining sea damage. Her crew were taken off by GS U-629 and taken to Brest in occupied France, arriving on 5 January 1944.