German submarine U-412

German submarine U-412 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out one patrol. She sank or damaged no ships.

She was sunk northeast of the Faroe Islands on 22 October 1942 by a British aircraft.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-412 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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-412 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 a 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 7 March 1941 at the Danziger Werft (yard) at Danzig (now Gdansk) as yard number 113, launched on 15 December and commissioned on 29 April under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Jahrmäker. She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 29 April 1942 (training) and the 9th flotilla from 1 October.

Patrol and loss
U-412 departed Kiel on 17 October 1942. She was sunk on 22 October northeast of the Faroe Islands by depth charges dropped by a Vickers Wellington of No. 179 Squadron RAF. Forty-seven men died in U-412; there were no survivors.