German submarine U-229

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-229 had a displacement of {{convert|769|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|871|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}} She had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.

The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|2800 to 3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|17.7|kn|km/h}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.6|kn|km/h}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|80|nmi|km}} at {{convert|4|kn|km/h}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|8500|nmi|km}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h}}. U-229 was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 and 60.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}}

U-229 left Kiel on 20 February 1943. She crossed the North Sea, passed through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and entered the Atlantic Ocean.

She sank the British freighter {{SS|Nailsea Court|1936|2}} – part of convoy SC 121 on 10 March 1943 southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland. In the same attack she damaged the British freighter Coulmore, which remained afloat but was abandoned by her crew.

She then sank the Swedish Vaalaren in the same vicinity on 5 April. There were no survivors.

U-229 arrived at St Nazaire on 17 April.

The boat's second foray commenced with her departure from St Nazaire on 11 May 1943. On the 17th, west of the Bay of Biscay, she was attacked by a Catalina flying boat of No. 190 Squadron RAF. The damage inflicted was such that she was forced to return to France, arriving in Bordeaux on 7 June.

Having moved from Bordeaux to La Pallice in early August 1943, the boat departed the latter port on the 31st.

She was sunk on 22 September 1943 south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position {{coord|54|36|N|36|25|W|dim:2000000|display=inline,title}}, by depth charges, gunfire and ramming by the British destroyer {{HMS|Keppel|D84|6}}. All 50 hands were lost.

U-229 took part in four wolfpacks, namely:

• Neuland (4 – 6 March 1943)
• Ostmark (6 – 11 March 1943)
• Stürmer (11 – 16 March 1943)
• Leuthen (15 – 23 September 1943)

{{reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
• {{cite book

|last1=Busch

|first1=Rainer

|last2=Röll

|first2=Hans-Joachim

|title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945

|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945

|series=Der U-Boot-Krieg

|volume=IV

|publisher=Mittler

|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn

|year=1999

|isbn=3-8132-0514-2

|language=de

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Edwards

|first=Bernard

|title=Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War

|year=1996

|isbn=0-304-35203-9

|pages=171, 182, 219, 220

|publisher=Cassell Military Classics

|ref={{sfnRef|Edwards}}

}}

• {{cite book

|last1=Gröner

|first1=Erich

|last2=Jung

|first2=Dieter

|last3=Maass

|first3=Martin

|translator-last1=Thomas

|translator-first1=Keith

|translator-last2=Magowan

|translator-first2=Rachel

|year=1991

|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels

|volume=2

|series=German Warships 1815–1945

|location=London

|publisher=Conway Maritime Press

|isbn=0-85177-593-4

|ref=CITEREFGröner1991

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Kemp

|first=Paul

|title=U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars

|location=London

|year=1999

|publisher=Arms & Armour

|isbn=1-85409-515-3

}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u229.html

|title=The Type VIIC boat U-229

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

|access-date=26 December 2014

}}

• {{cite web

|url=http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0229.html

|title=U 229

|last=Hofmann

|first=Markus

|website=Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de

|language=de

|access-date=26 December 2014

}}

{{German Type VII submarines}}

{{September 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0229}}

Category:German Type VIIC submarines

Category:World War II submarines of Germany

Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942

Category:U-boats sunk in 1943

Category:U-boats sunk by British warships

Category:1942 ships

Category:Ships built in Kiel

Category:Submarines lost with all hands

Category:Maritime incidents in September 1943