Editing German submarine U-487

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''U-487''
|Ship ordered=17 July 1941
|Ship builder=[[Germaniawerft]], [[Kiel]]
|Ship yard number=556
|Ship laid down=31 December 1941
|Ship launched=17 October 1942
|Ship commissioned=21 December 1942
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate= Sunk on 13 July 1943{{sfn|Kemp|1999|pp=130-131}}
}}
{{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=Service record<ref name="uboatnet">{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u487.htm
 |title=The Type XIV boat U-487
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-07
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u487.html
 |title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-487
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-07
}}</ref>
|partof=
*[[4th U-boat Flotilla]]
*21 December 1942 – 31 March 1943
*[[12th U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 April 1943 – 13 July 1943
|codes=M 49 344
|commanders=
*''[[Oblt.z.S.]]'' Helmut Metz
*21 December 1942 – 13 July 1943
|operations=*2 patrols:
*1st patrol:
*27 March – 12 May 1943
*2nd patrol:
*15 June – 13 July 1943
|victories=None
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-487''''' was a [[German Type XIV submarine|Type XIV]] supply and replenishment [[U-boat]] ("''Milchkuh''") of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' during [[World War II]].

Her keel was [[Keel laying|laid down]] 31 December 1941 by [[Germaniawerft]] in [[Kiel]] as yard number 556. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 17 October 1942 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 21 December 1942 with ''[[Oberleutnant zur See]]'' Helmut Metz in command. Metz commanded the boat for its entire career.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

Her service began with training as part of the [[4th U-boat Flotilla]]. She then joined the [[12th U-boat Flotilla|12th flotilla]] for operations.

==Design==
[[German Type XIV submarine]]s were shortened versions of the [[German Type IX submarine|Type IXD]]s they were based on. ''U-487'' 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-487'' 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-487'' conducted two patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

===First patrol===
The U-boat departed Kiel on 27 March 1943, heading for the mid-Atlantic. She arrived in [[Bordeaux]], in occupied France on 12 May.

===Second patrol and loss===
Her second patrol saw her leave Bordeaux on 15 June 1943. On 13 July, ''U-487'' was attacked in the central Atlantic by five United States Navy [[Grumman TBF Avenger]]s and [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]]s from the [[escort carrier]] {{USS|Core|CVE-13|6}}. The U-boat's crew were taken by surprise, so much so that sunbathers were seen on the casing.{{sfn|Kemp|1999|pp=130-131}} One Wildcat was shot down, but 31 men were killed and the U-boat sunk. The 33 survivors were taken prisoner on board {{USS|Barker|DD-213|6}}.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{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
}}
*{{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}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web
 |url= http://uboat.net/boats/u487.htm
 |title= The Type XIV boat U-487
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date= 6 December 2014
}}

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

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{{use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0487}}
[[Category:German Type XIV submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1943]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by US aircraft]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1943]]