German submarine U-104 (1940)

U-123–an identical U-boat to U-104–leaving Lorient on 8 June 1941
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-104
Ordered24 May 1938
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number967
Laid down10 November 1939
Launched25 May 1940
Commissioned19 August 1940
FateSunk by mine around 28 November 1940 in the North Atlantic northwest of Tory Island[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXB submarine
Displacement
  • 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.2 kn (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 07 089
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 12 – 28 November 1940
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk
    (8,240 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (10,516 GRT)

German submarine U-104 was a Type IXB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 24 May 1938 as part of the German naval rearmament program Plan Z. Her keel was laid down by DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen in November 1939. Following about six and a half months of construction, she was launched on 25 May 1940 and formally commissioned into the Kriegsmarine on 19 August 1940.

U-104 had a very short career, sinking just one enemy vessel and damaging one other during one war patrol. In the middle of her first patrol, U-104 was posted missing off the north coast of Ireland on 30 November 1940 and was presumed sunk in minefield SN 44, which was laid a few days prior to her arrival in the area.

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXB boat U-104". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by U-104". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 June 2010.