German submarine U-921
{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=U 570.jpg |Ship image size=300px |Ship caption=U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-921. }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Nazi Germany |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}} |Ship name=U-921 |Ship ordered=6 June 1941 |Ship builder=Neptun Werft AG, Rostock |Ship yard number=508 |Ship laid down=15 October 1941 |Ship launched=3 April 1943 |Ship commissioned=30 May 1943 |Ship homeport= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship fate=Missing since 24 September 1944 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=Type VIIC submarine |Ship displacement=
|Ship length=
|Ship beam=
|Ship height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed=
|Ship range=
|Ship test depth=
|Ship complement=4 officers, 44–52 enlisted |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=
|Ship notes= }} {{Infobox service record |is_ship=yes |label= |partof=
|codes=M 50 627 |commanders=
|url=https://uboat.net/men/commanders/727.html |title=Wolfgang Leu |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=5 April 2016 }}
|url=https://uboat.net/men/commanders/1415.html |title=Hans-Joachim Neumann |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=5 April 2016 }}
|url=https://uboat.net/men/commanders/1338.html |title=Alfred Werner |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=5 April 2016 }}
|operations=*2 patrols:
|victories=None }} |
German submarine U-921 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was ordered on 6 June 1941, and was laid down on 15 October 1941 at Neptun Werft AG, Rostock, as yard number 508. She was launched on 3 April 1943 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Leu on 30 May 1943.{{cite web
|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u921.htm
|title=U-921
|last=Helgason
|first=Guðmundur
|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
|access-date=5 April 2016
}}
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-921 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 SSW GU 343/38-8 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}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.6|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43-46}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|80|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|8500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-921 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 or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 and two twin 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43-46}}
Service history
On 24 May 1944, U-921 was spotted off Norway, en route to Narvik, by a Canadian Sunderland, DV990, of 422/R Squadron RCAF piloted by F/O G.E. Holley. U-921 had been searching for {{GS|U-476||2}} which had been attacked from the air earlier in the day and badly damaged. U-921 was able to hit the Sunderland on its attack run causing it to crash into the sea after dropping three depth charges, which resulted in no damage to U-921 but all the crewmen of the Sunderland were lost.
Shortly after this first attack U-921 was sighted by another Canadian Sunderland, DW111, of 423/S Squadron RCAF piloted by F/L R.H. Nesbitt. U-921 was able to avoid the five depth charges dropped by the Sunderland but strafing wounded the commander, Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Leu, and two other crewmen. As U-921 was diving, Leu was able to get both of the wounded crewmen below, but then closed the hatch to prevent her from sinking, sacrificing himself. U-921 sailed for Trondheim, arriving 26 May 1944, under command of her I. WO (1st Wachoffizier) Leutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Neumann.
On 24 September 1944, 20 days into her second war patrol, U-921 sent her last radio transmission from {{coord|74|45|N|13|50|E|display=inline, title}}, west of Bear Island in the Norwegian Sea, in which she stated that, due to unspecified damage, she needed to return to port. U-921 was ordered to continue to operate against Convoy RA 60 and postpone her return. On 2 October 1944 she was listed as missing when, after the end of the convoy battle, she failed to return to Narvik.
=Wolfpacks=
U-921 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
- Grimm (9 September — 2 October 1944)
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
{{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=Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |date=1999|volume=IV |publisher=Mittler|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXKwAAAAIAAJ |language=de}}
- {{cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Eric |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |translator-last1=Thomas|translator-first1=Keith|translator-last2=Magowan|translator-first2=Rachel |title=German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |date=1991 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |volume=2 |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Udg-0AEACAAJ|ref=CITEREFGröner1991}}
{{Refend}}
External links
- {{cite web
|url=https://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u921.html
|title=Patrols by U-921
|last=Helgason
|first=Guðmundur
|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
}}
{{German Type VII submarines}}
{{September 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:U0921}}
Category:German Type VIIC submarines
Category:U-boats commissioned in 1943
Category:World War II submarines of Germany
Category:Ships built in Rostock
Category:Maritime incidents in September 1944