German submarine U-879
German submarine "U-879" was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" during World War II. Design. German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. "U-879" had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2  GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to . The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . "U-879" was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a Flak M42 as well as two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The  boat had a complement of forty-eight. Service history. "U-879" was ordered on 2 April 1942 from DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen under the yard number 1087. Her keel was laid down on 26 June 1943 and the U-boat was launched the following year on 11 January 1944. She was commissioned into service under the command of "Kapitänleutnant" Erwin Manchen (Crew 36) in 4th U-boat Flotilla. "U-879" was transferred to 33rd U-boat Flotilla after completing training and working up for deployment. She left her base in Horten Naval Base on 9 February 1945 for operations off the  US east coast. Since another U-boat, was operating at the same time in the vicinity, it is not clear, which ships were attacked "U-879" or the other U-boat, which is missing. The US tanker "Atlantic States" was probably hit and damaged on 5 April 1945, while the Belgian steamer "Belgian Airman" and the US tanker "Swiftscout" may have been sunk by "U-879" on 14 and 18 April respectively. The Norwegian tanker "Katy" might have been hit and damaged on 23 April. Late on 29 April, a U-boat was picked up by escorts of convoy KN 382. tried  to ram her but missed. "Natchez" with three more escorts, , , and , chased the contact for several hours with depth charges and a hedgehog anti-submarine weapon. In the early hours of 30 April, a strong explosion was heard and the contact disappeared. Only in 1968 a wreck was discovered, confirming the sinking of a U-boat. It is assumed that the U-boat in question was "U-879", but there are indicators that it might have been "U-857" instead.