German submarine U-298

German submarine U-298 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 23 February 1943 by the Bremer Vulkan company at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 63. She was launched on 25 October 1943, and commissioned on 1 December with Oberleutnant zur See Ortwin Hensellek in command.

Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-298 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-298 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
Hensellek was replaced after only three weeks by Oblt.z.S. Otto Hohmann while U-298 completed the training of her crew while part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla in the Baltic Sea.

In July 1944 U-298 sailed to Bergen, Norway, to join the U-Abwehrschule (U-boat School) where she remained as a training boat, under the command of Oblt.z.S. Heinrich Gehrken, until ordered to surrender on 9 May 1945.

Disposal
U-298 was sailed from Bergen on 30 May 1945, arriving at Loch Ryan, Scotland, on 4 June via Scapa Flow. She was towed out to position 55.58333°N, -7.9°W by HMS Fowey (L15) as part of "Operation Deadlight" on 29 November 1945, and sunk by shellfire from HMS Onslow (G17) and HMS Cubitt (K512) the next day.