German submarine U-519

German submarine U-519 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 23 June 1941 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 334, launched on 12 February 1942 and commissioned on 7 May 1942 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Günter Eppen.

U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-519
Ordered14 February 1940
BuilderDeutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number334
Laid down23 June 1941
Launched12 February 1942
Commissioned7 May 1942
FateMissing in the Bay of Biscay since 31 January 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Günter Eppen
  • 7 May 1942 – 31 January 1943
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 17 October – 29 December 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 30 – 31 January 1943
Victories: None

After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla, U-519 was transferred to the 2nd U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 1 November 1942.[1]

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-519 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged.[3] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 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 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-519 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[3]

Service history

First patrol

The U-boat left Kiel on 17 October 1942, moved through the gap between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands into the Atlantic Ocean and patrolled the vicinity of the Azores, joining the wolfpack Westwall between 8 November and 16 December. However she had no successes. She arrived at Lorient in occupied France on 29 December after 74 days at sea.[4]

Second patrol

The boat departed Lorient for the last time on 30 January 1943. She has been posted missing since 31 January 1943. She was previously thought to have been sunk by "Tidewater Tillie," a B-24 Liberator of the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron, about six hundred miles west of Lorient. This attack was actually against U-752.[1]

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-519". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-519". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  3. Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-519 from 17 Oct 1942 to 29 Dec 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 February 2010.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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