German submarine U-29 was a Type VIIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was laid down on 2 January 1936, launched on 29 August and commissioned on 10 November. During her career U-29 was involved in seven war patrols under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart.
As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-29 had a displacement of 626t when at the surface and 745t while submerged. She had a total length of 64.51m (211.65feet), a pressure hull length of 45.5m (149.3feet), a beam of 5.85m (19.19feet), a height of 9.5m (31.2feet), and a draught of 4.37m (14.34feet). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for 73- at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-29 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
U-29 was responsible for sinking the aircraft carrier, on 17 September 1939, the first British warship sunk in the war by enemy action. The commander of the German submarine force, Commodore Karl Dönitz, regarded the sinking of Courageous as "a wonderful success" and Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, commander of the Kriegsmarine (German navy), directed that Schuhart be awarded the Iron Cross First Class and that all other members of the U-29 crew receive the Iron Cross Second Class.[1]
During U-29s career, she sank twelve ships, totaling and one warship of 22,500 tons. At the beginning of 1941, U-29 was removed from front line duty and reassigned to the 24th U-boat Flotilla as a training submarine. The U-boat was used in this role until 17 April 1944 when she was decommissioned and used for instruction.
U-29 was scuttled in Kupfermühlen Bay, (east of Flensburg), on 5 May 1945 as part of Operation Regenbogen. The wreck was still in situ as of 1993.
U-29 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
U-29s emblem was an oak leaf, with an anchor, and a knife or dagger. She also shared this emblem with,,, and .[2]
| Date | Name of Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[3] | Fate[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1939 | Regent Tiger |  United Kingdom | 10,176 | Sunk | |
| 13 September 1939 | Neptunia | United Kingdom | 798 | Sunk | |
| 14 September 1939 | British Influence | United Kingdom | 8,431 | Sunk | |
| 17 September 1939 | 22,500 | Sunk | |||
| 3 March 1940 | Cato | United Kingdom | 710 | Sunk (mine) | |
| 4 March 1940 | Pacific Reliance | United Kingdom | 6,717 | Sunk | |
| 4 March 1940 | Thurston | United Kingdom | 3,072 | Sunk | |
| 16 March 1940 | Slava | 4,512 | Sunk (mine) | ||
| 26 June 1940 | Dimitris |  Greece | 5,254 | Sunk | |
| 1 July 1940 | Adamastos | Greece | 7,466 | Sunk | |
| 2 July 1940 | Athellaird | United Kingdom | 8,999 | Sunk | |
| 2 July 1940 | Santa Margarita |  Panama | 4,919 | Sunk | |
| 25 September 1940 | Eurymedon | United Kingdom | 6,223 | Sunk |