Name U-458 Yard number 289 Commissioned 12 December 1941 Construction started 16 October 1940 Draft 4.74 m Builder Deutsche Werke | Ordered 16 January 1940 Laid down 16 October 1940 Length 67 m Launched 4 October 1941 Beam 6.2 m | |
Fate Sunk 22 August 1943 in the Mediterranean in position , by depth charges from HMS Easton and the Greek escort destroyer Pindos. Part of 8th U-boat Flotilla, 3rd U-boat Flotilla, 29th U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-458 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 16 October 1940 by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel as yard number 289, launched on 4 October 1941 and commissioned on 12 December 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Diggins.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-458 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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-458 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
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 12 December 1941, followed by active service on 1 July 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla where she stayed for only four months, before transferring to Mediterranean operations with 29th Flotilla on 1 November 1942.
In 7 patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 7,584 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-458 took part in one wolfpack, namely
Fate
U-458 was sunk on 22 August 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°25′N 12°39′E, by depth charges from HMS Easton and the Greek destroyer Pindos. There were 8 dead and 39 survivors.