List of all U-boats
U-879
Type | IXC/40 | |||||||||
| Ordered | 2 Apr 1942 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 26 Jun 1943 | AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1087) | ||||||||
| Launched | 11 Jan 1944 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 19 Apr 1944 | Kptlt. Erwin Manchen | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 1 patrol |
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| Successes | 1 ship damaged, total tonnage 8,537 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate |
Sunk on 30 April 1945 in the North Atlantic east of Cape Hatteras, USA, in position 36.34N, 74.00W, by depth charges from the US patrol frigate USS Natchez and the US destroyer escorts USS Coffmann, USS Bostwick and USS Thomas. 52 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, January 1990). | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
Because U-879 was lost while operating in the same area as U-857 in April 1945 it is unclear which U-boat was responsible for three attacks on merchant ships between 14 and 23 April and which one was sunk by the depth charge attacks carried out by four US warships on 30 April.
Another possibility is that one of them was sunk by a US blimp (airship) that made a claim of dropping a homing torpedo on a submarine on 18 April 1945.
Previously recorded fate
- Sunk 19 April 1945 in the North Atlantic east of Boston, in position 42.19N, 61.45W, by depth charges from the US destroyer escorts USS Buckley and Reuben James. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack probably resulted in the loss U-548.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in December 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-879 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Media links
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