German submarine U-488

XIV

M- 49 793

German works, Kiel

July 17, 1941

313

January 3, 1942

October 17, 1942

February 1, 1943

3 patrols

No

U 488 was a German U- boat of the type XIV, which was used in World War II by the German Navy.

History

The contract for the boat was awarded on 17 July 1941, the German plants in Kiel. The keel was laid on 3 January 1942 and the launching on 17 October 1942. The commander, Lieutenant of the Reserve Erwin Bartke, put the boat on February 1, 1943 in service.

The boat was called a " cow " and was used solely as a supply boat. It held three supply companies.

After commissioning on February 1, 1943 U 488 completed his training rides in the 4.U Flotilla at Stettin, before it came to the 12th U- Flotilla to Bordeaux as a supply boat from 1 May 1943. There it remained as a supply boat to its sinking on 26 April 1944.

Use statistics

First company

The boat ran out on May 18, 1943 by Kiel and ran in Bordeaux on 10 July 1943. On this 53 days continuous supply company in the Mid-Atlantic following boats were supplied: U 558, U 666, U 232, U 435, U 951, U 642, U 641, U 211, U 336, U 228, U 953, U 603, U 221, U 608, U 618, U 590, U 571, U 306, U 84, U 634, U 653, U 358 The following boats were equipped only with replacement parts: U 732, U 615, U 415, U 535, U 257

Second company

The boat ran from September 7, 1943 by Bordeaux and expired on December 12, 1943 again there. On this 96 days continuous supply company in the mid-Atlantic west of the Azores following boats were supplied: U 68, U 155, U 103, U 402, U 584, U 731, U 378, U 758, U 378, U 641, U 731, U 193, U 103, U 530, U 129

Third company

The boat ran out on 22 February 1944 by Bordeaux. It was sunk on April 16, 1944 at Mid-Atlantic. On this 63 days continuous supply company in the mid-Atlantic, west of the Azores, the following boats were supplied: U 537, U 129, U 843 and U 123

Whereabouts

The boat was sunk on 26 April 1944 at Mid-Atlantic, northwest of the Azores on the intended supply space for U 66, by the American destroyer USS Frost, USS Inch, USS Huse, USS Barber and USS Snowdon located and with water bombs. The position was 17 ° 54 'N, 38 ° 5' W17.9 - 38.083333333333 marine- grid square EG 3192nd