Name U-298 Yard number 63 Commissioned 1 December 1943 Launched 25 October 1943 Draft 4.74 m | Ordered 23 March 1942 Laid down 23 February 1943 Construction started 23 February 1943 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | |
Fate Surrendered, 8 May 1945; sunk, 29 November 1945 | ||
German submarine U-298 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Contents
She was laid down on 23 February 1943 by the Bremer Vulkan company at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 63. She was launched on 25 October 1943, and commissioned on 1 December with Oberleutnant zur See Ortwin Hensellek in command.
Design
German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-298 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-298 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
Hensellek was replaced after only three weeks by Oblt.z.S. Otto Hohmann while U-298 completed the training of her crew while part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla in the Baltic Sea.
In July 1944 U-298 sailed to Bergen, Norway, to join the U-Abwehrschule (U-boat School) where she remained as a training boat, under the command of Oblt.z.S. Heinrich Gehrken, until ordered to surrender on 8 May 1945.
Disposal
U-298 was sailed from Bergen on 30 May 1945, arriving at Loch Ryan, Scotland, on 4 June via Scapa Flow. She was towed out to position 55°35′N 7°54′W by HMS Fowey as part of "Operation Deadlight" on 28 November 1945, and sunk by shellfire from HMS Onslow and Cubitt the next day.