German submarine U-488

German submarine U-488 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Its keel was laid down on 3 January 1942 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 557. It was launched on 17 October 1942 and commissioned on 1 February 1943, with Leutnant zur See Erwin Bartke in command. Bartke was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See by February 1944; he was relieved by Oblt.z.S. Bruno Studt.

The boat's service began with training under the 4th U-boat Flotilla and culminated with the 12th flotilla for operations.

Design
German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-488 had a displacement of 1688 t when at the surface and 1932 t while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 48.51 m, a beam of 9.35 m, a height of 11.70 m, and a draught of 6.51 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2800 - 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 240 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 14.4 - 14.9 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 6.2 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 120 nmi at 2 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 12350 nmi at 10 kn. U-488 was not fitted with torpedo tubes or deck guns, but had two 3.7 cm SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a 2 cm C/30 guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-three.

Operational career
U-488 conducted three patrols. As a supply boat, it avoided combat.

First patrol
U-488's first patrol commenced when it left Kiel on 18 May 1943. It cleared the British Isles, sailing through the gap between the Faroe Islands and Iceland and out into the central Atlantic. On the return journey, it passed to the north-west of the Azores and reached Bordeaux in occupied France on 10 July 1943.

Second patrol
It was attacked on its second patrol on 12 October 1943 by two Avengers from the escort carrier USS Card. The aircraft claimed a sinking, but U-488 was able to continue its mission.

On 15 October, Maschinenmaat Karl Bergmann died of an illness. On 25 November, Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Heinlein fell overboard. He was rescued, but died of heart failure shortly afterwards.

The U-boat returned to Bordeaux on 12 December 1943.

Third patrol and loss
The boat departed Bordeaux for the last time on 22 April 1944. U-488 was sunk with all hands (64 dead) on the 26th in the mid-Atlantic west of Cape Verde by depth charges from the American destroyer escorts USS Frost (DE-144), USS Huse (DE-145), USS Barber (DE-161) and USS Snowden (DE-246).

Wolfpacks
U-488 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
 * Trutz (6 – 12 June 1943)