Editing German submarine U-459

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=U-boat Warfare 1939-1945 C3780.jpg
|Ship caption=''U-459'' sinking after being attacked by [[Vickers Wellington]] aircraft
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''U-459''
|Ship ordered=14 May 1940
|Ship builder=[[Deutsche Werke]], [[Kiel]]
|Ship yard number=290
|Ship laid down=22 November 1940
|Ship launched=13 September 1941
|Ship commissioned=15 November 1941
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate=Scuttled on 24 July 1943{{sfn|Kemp|1999|p=134}}
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Type XIV submarine|Type XIV]] ocean-going submarine tanker
|Ship displacement=
* {{convert|1688|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} surfaced
* {{convert|1932|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=
* {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|lk=on|abbr=on}} [[o/a]]
* {{convert|48.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[pressure hull]]
|Ship beam=
* {{convert|9.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
* {{convert|4.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull
|Ship height={{convert|11.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|6.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
* {{convert|2800|–|3200|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
* {{convert|750|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=
* 2 shafts
* 2 × [[diesel engine]]s
* 2 × [[Motor-generator|electric motors]]
|Ship speed=
* {{convert|14.4|-|14.9|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
* {{convert|6.2|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=
* {{convert|12,350|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
* {{convert|55|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|240|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=6 officers and 47 enlisted
|Ship armament=
* 2 × [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s
* 1 × [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] AA gun
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=
|partof=
* [[4th U-boat Flotilla]]
* 15 November 1941 – 31 March 1942
* [[10th U-boat Flotilla]]
* 1 April – 31 October 1942
* [[12th U-boat Flotilla]]
* 1 November 1942 – 24 July 1943
|codes=M 42 590
|commanders=
* ''[[K.Kapt.]]'' Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf
* 15 November 1941 – 24 July 1943
|operations=*6 patrols:
* 1st patrol:
* 29 March – 15 May 1942
* 2nd patrol:
* 6 June – 19 July 1942
* 3rd patrol:
* 18 August – 4 November 1942
* 4th patrol:
* 20 December 1942 – 7 March 1943
* 5th patrol:
* 20 April – 3 June 1943
* 6th patrol:
* 22 – 24 July 1943
|victories=None
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-459''''' was a [[German Type XIV submarine|Type XIV]] supply and replenishment [[U-boat]] (''Milchkuh'' or 'milk cow') of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' during [[World War II]].

Her keel was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 22 November 1940 by [[Deutsche Werke]] in [[Kiel]] as yard number 290. The [[submarine]] was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 13 September 1941 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 15 November, with ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff in command; he remained in charge until the boat was lost, receiving promotion to ''[[Korvettenkapitän]]'' in the process.<ref name="uboat.net">{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u459.htm
 |title=The Type XIV boat U-459
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-02
}}</ref>

==Design==
[[German Type XIV submarine]]s were shortened versions of the [[German Type IX submarine|Type IXD]]s they were based on. ''U-459'' had a displacement of {{convert|1688|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1932|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|48.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|9.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|11.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|6.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[Germaniawerft]] [[supercharged]] four-stroke, six-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s producing a total of {{convert|2800|-|3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] 2 GU 345/38-8 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two [[propeller]]s. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|240|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|14.4|-|14.9|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|6.2|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|120|nmi}} at {{convert|2|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|12350|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ''U-459'' was not fitted with [[torpedo tube]]s or [[deck gun]]s, but had two [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of fifty-three.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}}

==Operational career==
''U-459'' conducted six patrols, but as a supply boat, she avoided combat.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u459.html
 |title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-459
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-02
}}</ref> The submarine initially served in the [[4th U-boat Flotilla]], for training, before moving on to the [[10th U-boat Flotilla|10th]] (in April 1942) and the [[12th U-boat Flotilla|12th flotilla]]s (in November of the same year), for operations.

===First and second patrols===
Having moved from Kiel to [[Helgoland]] ''U-459'' set-off for occupied France, arriving in [[St. Nazaire]] on 15 May 1942, after traversing the north-central Atlantic. Her captain, von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf, was 48, one of the oldest skippers at the time.

Her second patrol began on 6 June 1942. It was at about this time that von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf was promoted to ''Korvettenkapitän''.

===Third and fourth patrols===
Her third foray saw the boat sail into the south Atlantic, as far as [[Namibia]]. She departed St. Nazaire on 18 August 1942 and returned on 4 November.

Her fourth patrol was her longest, from 20 December 1942 to 7 March 1943, a total of 78 days. She started in St. Nazaire and finished in [[Bordeaux]]. This voyage included sailing toward [[Cameroon]], the boat's nearest position to that country was reached on 18 January 1943. On 4 September 1942 U-459 shared rations with the survivors in a lifeboat from the sunken freighter SS California which had been torpedoed by Italian sub [[Liuzzi-class submarine|Reginaldo Giuliani]] 13 August 1942<ref>[https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=110&p=2491750#p2491750 U-Boat archive]</ref>

===Fifth and sixth patrols and loss===
Her fifth patrol began when she left Bordeaux on 20 April 1943. On 30 May, she shot down a British [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley|Whitley]] aircraft of (10 OTU RAF) (Crew rescued).<ref name="uboat.net"/> She was also attacked, on the same day, by an RAF [[B-24 Liberator|Liberator]] with a total of ten [[depth charge]]s. ''U-459'' was not damaged but her AA guns caused slight damage to the attacking Liberator.<ref name="uboat.net"/> She returned to her French base on 30 May.

After departing Bordeaux on 22 July 1943, ''U-459'' was attacked on 24 July near [[Cape Ortegal]], Spain, by two British [[Vickers Wellington|Wellington]] aircraft of [[No. 172 Squadron RAF]]. The boat shot down one of the Wellingtons (5 Killed In Action, 1 survived) but 18 submarine crewmen were killed during the action. ''U-459'' was crippled when a Wellington of [[No. 547 Squadron RAF]], damaged by flak, crashed into the starboard side of the boat.  The damage was so severe that she had to be [[Scuttling|scuttled]]. The rear gunner of the Wellington, Sergeant A. A. Turner, was the only survivor of the aircraft. Norman Franks wrote that Commander von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff was seen on the bridge, saluting his crew before disappearing into the conning tower hatch to complete the scuttling. He seemingly made no attempt to escape, [[The captain goes down with the ship|going down with his command]].{{sfn|Franks|1997|p=41}} The 41 survivors of the crew were taken prisoner.<ref name="uboat.net"/>

===Wolfpacks===
''U-459'' took part in one [[Wolf pack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]], namely:
* [[Wolfpack Eisbär]] (25 August – 1 September 1942)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Franks |first=Norman L. R. |date=1997 |title=Dark Sky, Deep Water |location=London |publisher=Grub Street |isbn=978-1-89-869757-2}}
* {{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|series=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Kemp
|first=Paul
|title=U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars
|location=London
|year=1999
|publisher=Arms & Armour
|isbn=1-85409-515-3
}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |translator-last=Brooks |translator-first=Geoffrey |title=German U-boat commanders of World War II: A Biographical Dictionary |publisher=Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press |location=London, Annapolis, Md |year=1999 |isbn=1-55750-186-6 }}
* {{cite book
|last1=Busch
|first1=Rainer
|last2=Röll
|first2=Hans-Joachim
|title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945
|series=Der U-Boot-Krieg
|volume=IV
|publisher=Mittler
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn
|year=1999
|isbn=3-8132-0514-2
|language=de
}}

==External links==
* {{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u459.htm
 |title=The Type XIV boat U-459
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-02
}}

{{German Type XIV submarines}}
{{July 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}

{{coord missing|Atlantic Ocean}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0459}}
[[Category:German Type XIV submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1941]]
[[Category:U-boats scuttled in 1943]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by British aircraft]]
[[Category:1941 ships]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1943]]