German submarine U-49 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 21 November 1936 and laid down on 15 September 1938 at the yards of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel as yard number 584. Launched on 24 June 1939, she was commissioned on 12 August and assigned to the 7th U-Boat Flotilla under the command of Kurt von Goßler.
German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-49 had a displacement of 753t when at the surface and 857t while submerged. She had a total length of 66.5m (218.2feet), a pressure hull length of 48.8m (160.1feet), a beam of 6.2m (20.3feet), a height of 9.5m (31.2feet), and a draught of 4.74m (15.55feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged 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 at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-49 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Following training exercises, U-49 departed on her first active patrol on 9 November 1939. She was attacked by allied forces twice during this time. On 13 November she was bombed by British aircraft and forced down to 160abbr=offNaNabbr=off, suffering minor damage. Three days later, she was located by the British destroyers and and depth charged. The submarine was forced to dive to 170m (560feet) to escape.
At 09:35 on 19 November U-49 came into contact with the 4,258 GRT British merchant ship carrying a cargo of 6,985 tons of maize. A bow torpedo at 11:15 hours and a stern shot at 11.24 both missed their mark, but a third fired at 12:19 hit, and the ship sank slowly by the stern at position 46.85°N -47°W. The ship's master and crew were picked up by and later landed at Plymouth by .
U-49s second patrol began 29 February 1940 at Kiel and lasted only six days in the North Sea. No ships were attacked on this patrol, and she made port at Wilhelmshaven on 5 March 1940.
On 11 March 1940, U-49 departed Wilhelmshaven for the Norwegian coast, in 19 days at sea, no ships were attacked and the submarine returned to Wilhelmshaven on 29 March 1940.
3 April 1940 saw the beginning of U-49s fourth and final patrol. In 13 days off the Norwegian coast, no ships were attacked.
On 15 April 1940, U-49 was sunk near Harstad, Norway in position 68.8833°N 75°W by depth charges from the British destroyers and . Of her crew of 42, one man died but there were 41 survivors.
The wreck of U-49 was found on 3 March 1993 by the Norwegian submarine . She lies at a depth of .