German submarine U-49 (1939)

German submarine U-49 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 21 November 1936 and laid down on 15 September 1938 at the yards of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel as yard number 584. Launched on 24 June 1939, she was commissioned on 12 August and assigned to the 7th U-Boat Flotilla under the command of Kurt von Goßler.

Design
German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-49 had a displacement of 753 t when at the surface and 857 t while submerged. She had a total length of 66.50 m, a pressure hull length of 48.80 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.50 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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 17.9 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 8 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8700 nmi at 10 kn. U-49 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 one 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

First patrol
Following training exercises, U-49 departed on her first active patrol on 9 November 1939. She was attacked by allied forces twice during this time. On 13 November she was bombed by British aircraft and forced down to 160 m, suffering minor damage. Three days later, she was located by the British destroyers HMS Echo (H23) and HMS Wanderer (D74) and depth charged. The submarine was forced to dive to 170 m to escape.

At 09:35 on 19 November U-49 came into contact with the 4,258 GRT British merchant ship SS Pensilva carrying a cargo of 6,985 tons of maize. A bow torpedo at 11:15 hours and a stern shot at 11.24 both missed their mark, but a third fired at 12:19 hit, and the ship sank slowly by the stern at position 46.85°N, -11.6°W. The ship's master and crew were picked up by HMS Echo (H23) and later landed at Plymouth by HMS Wanderer (D74).

Second patrol
U-49's second patrol began 29 February 1940 at Kiel and lasted only six days in the North Sea. No ships were attacked on this patrol, and she made port at Wilhelmshaven on 5 March 1940.

Third patrol
On 11 March 1940, U-49 departed Wilhelmshaven for the Norwegian coast, in 19 days at sea, no ships were attacked and the submarine returned to Wilhelmshaven on 29 March 1940.

Fourth patrol
3 April 1940 saw the beginning of U-49's fourth and final patrol. In 13 days off the Norwegian coast, no ships were attacked.

Fate
On 15 April 1940, U-49 was sunk near Harstad, Norway in position 68.88333°N, 16.98333°W by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Fearless (H67) and HMS Brazen (H80). Of her crew of 42, one man died but there were 41 survivors.

Wreck Site
The wreck of U-49 was found on 3 March 1993 by the Norwegian submarine HNOMS Skolpen (S306). She lies at a depth of 300 m.