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U BOATS SUNK IN SOUTH ATLANTIC - U 128 / U 1062

51)U-863

Ordered - 5 Jun 1941

Laid down - 15 Sep 1942 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1069)

Launched - 29 Jun 1943

Commissioned - 3 Nov 1943 KptLt Dietrich von der Esch

Commanders

3 Nov 1943 - 29 Sep 1944 KptLt Dietrich von der Esch (German Cross in Gold)

Career

1 patrol 3 Nov 1943 - 30 Jun 1944 4. Flottille (training)

1 Jul 1944 - 29 sep 1944 12. Flottille (active service)

Successes - No ships sunk or damaged

Fate: Sunk 29 Sept 1944 in the South Atlantic east-south-east of Recife, in position 10.45S, 25.30W, by depth charges from 2 US Liberator aircraft (VB-107/B-9). 69 dead (all hands lost).

By www.uboat.net

DETAILS OF THE SINKING OF U-863

German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-863 had a displacement of 1,610 tonnes (1,580 long tons) when at the surface and 1,799 tonnes (1,771 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 87.58 m (287 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in), a beam of 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in), a height of 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in), and a draught of 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in).

The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWMRS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of 9,000 metric horsepower (6,620 kW; 8,880 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.85 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 200 metres (660 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 121 nautical miles (224 km; 139 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,750 nautical miles (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-863 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes(four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.