German submarine U-294

German submarine U-294 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 22 December 1942 by the Bremer Vulkan Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 59, launched on 27 August 1943, and commissioned on 4 October with Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Schütt in command.

In five patrols, she sank or damaged no ships.

She surrendered at Narvik in Norway on 9 May 1945 and was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 31 December 1945.

Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-294 had a displacement of 759 t when at the surface and 860 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-294 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), one 3.7 cm Flak M42 and two 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in October 1943. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 6 November and moved again to the 14th flotilla on 1 March 1945.

First and second patrols
U-294's first patrol took her to northeast of the Shetland Islands. It was preceded by a short voyage between Kiel in Germany and Stavanger in Norway in May 1944.

More brief sojourns followed, using Bergen, Flekkefjord and Kiel.

The boat's second 'official' patrol was between 18 and 24 September 1944.

Third and fourth patrols
The submarine's third sortie took her as far as the North Sea.

More short voyages were carried out, using Flekkefjord, Horten Naval Base and Tönsberg in October and November 1944.

Her fourth patrol started and finished in Bergen, but included a stop in Trondheim.

Fifth patrol and fate
U-294 departed Narvik and arrived at Harstad (northwest of Narvik), before going on to Skjomenfjord, in April 1945.

She arrived at Loch Eriboll in northern Scotland on 19 May 1945 and then moved to Lisahally (Londonderry port), for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk by gunfire from HMS Offa and HMS Zealous on 31 December.