German World War II submarine
| History |
|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|---|
| Name | U-857 |
| Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
| Builder | DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen |
| Yard number | 1063 |
| Laid down | 16 November 1942 |
| Launched | 25 May 1943 |
| Commissioned | 16 September 1943 |
| Fate | Missing since 30 April 1945 in the North Atlantic off the U.S. East Coast |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class and type | Type IXC/40 submarine |
| Displacement |
- 1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced
- 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
|
| Length | |
| Beam |
- 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a
- 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 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 |
- 13,850 nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
- 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
|
| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament | |
| Service record |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: |
M 52 607 |
| Commanders: |
- Kptlt. Rudolf Premauer
- 16 September 1943 – 30 April 1945
|
| Operations: |
- 3 patrols:
- 1st patrol:
- 9 May – 13 August 1944
- 2nd patrol:
- a. 25 August – 11 October 1944
- b. 17 – 19 October 1944
- c. 1 December 1944
- d. 30 January – 2 February 1945
- 3rd patrol:
- 6 February – 30 April 1945
|
| Victories: |
- 2 merchant ships sunk
(15,259 GRT)
- 1 merchant ship damaged
(6,825 GRT)
|
|
German submarine U-857 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during the Second World War. She was ordered on 5 June 1941, laid down on 16 November 1942, and launched on 25 May 1943. For her operational lifespan, she was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Premauer and had a crew complement of 59.
Design
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-857 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged. 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 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 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).
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). 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 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-857 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) Flak M42 as well as two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.
Service history
She undertook three patrols, the first was for training. She sank two ships for a total tonnage of 15,259 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged one other ship on her last two patrols.[2] She sank Belgian Airman on 14 April 1945, Swiftscout on 18 April 1945 and damaged Katy on 23 April 1945.
Fate
U-857 went missing since 30 April 1945 in the North Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of the United States. All hands were lost, and no wreckage was found.
The U-boat had been claimed to have been sunk by depth charge hedgehogs off the coast of Massachusetts on 7 April 1945 by USS Gustafson and was also thought to have been possibly sunk by USS Coffman.[3] However more recent commentary surmised that Gustafson had not hit her, and her loss is currently unexplained.[4][5] U-857 was considered as a possible identity for the wreck that was ultimately determined to be U-869.[6]
