U-486
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 5 Jun 1941 | |||
| Laid down | 8 May 1943 | Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 321) | ||
| Launched | 12 Feb 1944 | |||
| Commissioned | 22 Mar 1944 | Oblt. Gerhard Meyer | ||
| Commanders |
| |||
| Career | 2 patrols | 22 Mar 1944 - 31 Oct 1944 5. Flottille (training) 1 Nov 1944 - 12 Apr 1945 11. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 2 ships sunk for a total of 17,651 GRT 1 warship sunk for a total of 1,085 tons 1 warship a total loss for a total of 1,085 tons | |||
| Fate | Sunk 12 April, 1945 in the North Sea north-west of Bergen, Norway, in position 60.44N, 04.39E by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Tapir. 48 dead (all hands lost). | |||
See the 4 ships hit by U-486 - View the 2 war patrols
Attacks on this boat
30 Dec 1944
An attack on 30 Dec, 1944 in the English Channel south of Weymouth, in position 50.05N, 02.31W, by depth charges from a Canadian Wellington aircraft (RCAF Sqdn. 407/L) formerly credited with sinking the U-772.
This attack was most likely against U-486 which escaped unharmed.
(Sources: 2005-01-01, Axel Niestle)1 recorded attack on this boat.
General notes on this boat
24 Dec 1944. Sinking of SS Leopoldville
On Christmas Eve, 1944 U-486 torpedoed the SS Leopoldville in the English Channel just 5 miles from the port of Cherbourg, France. The troopship was transporting 2235 American soldiers from regiments of the 66th Infantry Division. The ship finally sank 2 1/2 hours later. Everything that could went wrong; calls for help were mishandled, rescue craft were slow to the scene and the weather was unfavorable. 763 American soldiers died that night, making this the worst loss an American Infantry Division suffered from a U-boat attack during the war.
The location of the sinking
The Allied authorities were embarrassed by the incident and decided to bury the case. Many loved ones were told the men were missing in action although they were already dead by then, later to be classified as killed in action. It was not until 1996 that the files were opened to the public.
U-486 had not said her last word as she sank the British frigates HMS Affleck and Capel only two days later in the same area before returning on 15 Jan, 1945 to Bergen, Norway.
The wreck of the SS Leopoldville was discovered by Clive Cussler with the help of his shipwreck-hunting organization NUMA (National Underwater & Marine Agency). His book The Sea Hunters contains a chapter on the sinking which describes the incident from eyewitness accounts, and includes the story of the discovery of the wreck.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in October 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-486 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Buy this title at amazon.com See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include:
|
