U-979

Type

VIIC

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

10 Aug 1942

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 179)

Launched

15 Apr 1943

Commissioned

20 May 1943

Oblt. Johannes Meermeier

Commanders

20 May 1943

24 May 1945

Kptlt. Johannes Meermeier

Career
3 patrols

20 May 1943	-	31 Jul 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1944	-	14 Oct 1944	9. Flottille (active service)
15 Oct 1944	-	24 May 1945	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 348 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,386 GRT
1 auxiliary warship damaged, total tonnage 5,969 GRT

Fate

Scuttled on 24 May 1945 in the North Sea south-east of Amrum, Germany, in position 54.36,5N, 08.21,7E, after running aground on a sand bank.

Final location

See the 3 ships hit by U-979 - View the 3 war patrols

The wreck of U-979 was still present in July 1991.

Attacks on this boat and other events

23 Sep 1944
On attacking a small convoy, one of the escorts, the British anti-submarine trawler HMS St. Kenan, rammed and depth charged the boat. Damage to the periscope forced U-979 to return to Bergen. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 632)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

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-979 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.