German submarine U-488

Template:Short description

Template:Infobox ship image Template:Infobox ship career Template:Infobox ship characteristics Template:Infobox service record

German submarine U-488 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Its keel was laid down on 3 January 1942 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 557. It was launched on 17 October 1942 and commissioned on 1 February 1943, with Leutnant zur See Erwin Bartke in command. Bartke was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See by February 1944; he was relieved by Oblt.z.S. Bruno Studt.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

The boat's service began with training under the 4th U-boat Flotilla and culminated with the 12th flotilla for operations.

Design

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-488 had a displacement of Template:Convert when at the surface and Template:Convert while submerged.Template:Sfn The U-boat had a total length of Template:Convert, a pressure hull length of Template:Convert, a beam of Template:Convert, a height of Template:Convert, and a draught of Template:Convert. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of Template:Convert for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of Template:Convert for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to Template:Convert.Template:Sfn

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of Template:Convert and a maximum submerged speed of Template:Convert.Template:Sfn When submerged, the boat could operate for Template:Convert at Template:Convert; when surfaced, she could travel Template:Convert at Template:Convert. U-488 was not fitted with torpedo tubes or deck guns, but had two [[3.7 cm SK C/30|Template:Convert SK C/30]] anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a [[2 cm FlaK 30|Template:Convert C/30]] guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-three.Template:Sfn

Operational career

U-488 conducted three patrols. As a supply boat, it avoided combat.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

First patrol

U-488Template:'s first patrol commenced when it left Kiel on 18 May 1943. It cleared the British Isles, sailing through the gap between the Faroe Islands and Iceland and out into the central Atlantic. On the return journey, it passed to the north-west of the Azores and reached Bordeaux in occupied France on 10 July 1943.

Second patrol

It was attacked on its second patrol on 12 October 1943 by two Avengers from the escort carrier Template:USS. The aircraft claimed a sinking, but U-488 was able to continue its mission.

On 15 October, Maschinenmaat Karl Bergmann died of an illness. On 25 November, Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Heinlein fell overboard. He was rescued, but died of heart failure shortly afterwards.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

The U-boat returned to Bordeaux on 12 December 1943.

Third patrol and loss

The boat departed Bordeaux for the last time on 22 April 1944. U-488 was sunk with all hands (64 dead) on the 26th in the mid-Atlantic west of Cape Verde by depth charges from the American destroyer escorts Template:USS, Template:USS, Template:USS and Template:USS.<ref name="uboatnet"/>