German submarine U-84 (1941)

German submarine U-84 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was launched on 26 February 1941 and commissioned on 29 April 1941. She operated during the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War.

Design
German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-84 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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-84 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 anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
U-84 carried out eight patrols and accounted for six ships sunk and one ship damaged during World War II. She operated in the Gulf of Mexico for a time. Commanded by Captain Uphoff, U-84 torpedoed the freighter Baja California just forward of midships whilst in the Gulf of Mexico on 19 July 1942 at 06:45. Baja California sank in about 114 ft of water about 60 to 70 nmi southwest of Fort Myers, Florida. Baja California, en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Key West, was carrying a load of general cargo which included glassware.

Fate
U-84 was sunk while under the command of Horst Uphoff on 7 August 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 27.91667°N, -68.05°W by a Mk 24 homing torpedo dropped on it by a US B24 Liberator aircraft (VB-105/B-4 USN). 46 dead (all hands lost).

Wolfpacks
U-84 took part in seventeen wolfpacks, namely:
 * Grönland (16 – 27 August 1941)
 * Markgraf (27 August – 13 September 1941)
 * Schlagetot (20 October – 1 November 1941)
 * Raubritter (1 – 4 November 1941)
 * Seydlitz (27 December 1941 – 13 January 1942)
 * Zieten (13 – 22 January 1942)
 * Endrass (12 – 17 June 1942)
 * Panther (6 – 20 October 1942)
 * Veilchen (20 October – 5 November 1942)
 * Kreuzotter (9 – 19 November 1942)
 * Sturmbock (21 – 26 February 1943)
 * Wildfang (26 February – 5 March 1943)
 * Raubgraf (7 – 20 March 1943)
 * Seewolf (24 – 30 March 1943)
 * Adler (7 – 13 April 1943)
 * Meise (13 – 20 April 1943)
 * Specht (21 – 25 April 1943)