German submarine U-84 (1941) explained

German submarine U-84 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was launched on 26 February 1941 and commissioned on 29 April 1941. She operated during the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War.

Design

German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-84 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 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-84 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 2cm (01inches) anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

U-84 carried out eight patrols and accounted for six ships sunk and one ship damaged during World War II. She operated in the Gulf of Mexico for a time. Commanded by Captain Uphoff, U-84 torpedoed the freighter Baja California just forward of midships whilst in the Gulf of Mexico on 19 July 1942 at 06:45. Baja California sank in about 114feet of water about 60to southwest of Fort Myers, Florida. Baja California, en route from New Orleans, Louisiana to Key West, was carrying a load of general cargo which included glassware.[1]

Fate

U-84 was sunk while under the command of Horst Uphoff on 7 August 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 27.9167°N -71°W by a Mk 24 homing torpedo dropped on it by a US B24 Liberator aircraft (VB-105/B-4 USN). 46 dead (all hands lost).[2]

Wolfpacks

U-84 took part in seventeen wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

Date[3] Name of shipNationalityTonnage (GRT)Fate
8 April 1942Nemanja5,226Sunk
21 April 1942Chenango Panama3,014Sunk
23 June 1942Torvanger Norway6,568Sunk
13 July 1942Andrew Jackson United States5,990Sunk
19 July 1942Baja California Honduras1,648Sunk
21 July 1942William Cullen Bryant United States7,176Damaged
2 November 1942Empire Sunrise United Kingdom7,459Sunk

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baja California (Steam merchant) . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 2010-01-08.
  2. Web site: The Type VIIB boat U-84 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 2010-01-08.
  3. Web site: Ships hit by U-84 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 2010-01-08.