German submarine U-199

German submarine ''U-199'' was a Type IXD2 U-boat of Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 10 October 1941 at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard at Bremen as yard number 1045, launched on 11 July 1942 and commissioned on 28 November. She was commanded by '' Ritterkreuz'' recipient ''Kapitänleutnant'' Hans-Werner Kraus, who had previously successfully commanded and .

After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla at Stettin, ''U-199'' was transferred to the 12th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service from 1 May 1943.

She was sunk off the Brazilian coast on 31 July 1943 by the brazilian PBY Catalina "Arará".

Design

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. ''U-199'' had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . ''U-199'' was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a SK C/30 with 2575 rounds as well as two C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.

Operational history

''U-199'' sailed from Kiel on 13 May 1943 on her first and only operational patrol; she negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands, before heading south and had crossed the Equator by 17 June, targeting ships in the South Atlantic Ocean. Operating off the Brazilian coast, she torpedoed and damaged the Brazilian armed merchant ship ''Bury'', which returned fire and managed to escape. On 4 July, the submarine was spotted on the surface by the small fishing boat ''Changri-Lá''. The Brazilian boat was sunk with the loss of all hands by gun fire. ''U-199'' had her first and only significant success, sinking the British merchant ship ''Henzada'' on 25 July.

Fate

''U-199'' was found on the surface, off Rio de Janeiro, in position , by three aircraft, a PBY Catalina and a Lockheed Hudson (both Brazilian) and an American PBM Mariner of VP-74 on 31 July. The Catalina, codenamed ''Arará'', hit ''U-199'' with depth charges, sinking her. The pilot of the Catalina was ''2º Ten.-Av.'' (2nd Lt.) Alberto M. Torres, which later went to Italy as part of 1st Brazilian Fighter Squadron. Forty-nine of the crew were killed, although twelve Germans managed to escape the doomed submarine, including the captain. This was possible due to the actions of the Catalina's crew, who threw a lifeboat to the survivors. They were rescued by the and taken to Brazil, and then on to captivity in the United States.

Summary of raiding history

References

Bibliography

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:U0199
Ships built in Bremen (state)
German Type IX submarines
U-boats commissioned in 1942
U-boats sunk by US aircraft
U-boats sunk by Brazilian aircraft
U-boats sunk in 1943
World War II submarines of Germany
1942 ships
U-boats sunk by depth charges
Maritime incidents in July 1943