German submarine U-853

U-853 and crew
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-853
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	1059
Laid down	21 August 1942
Launched	11 March 1943
Commissioned	25 June 1943
Nickname(s)	der Seiltänzer ("the Tightrope Walker")
Fate	Sunk in Battle of Point Judith on 6 May 1945
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	76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 AA gun 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns
Service record[1][2]
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 25 June 1943 – 31 March 1944 10th U-boat Flotilla 1 April – 1 October 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 6 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 52 793
Commanders:	Kptlt. Helmut Sommer 25 June 1943 – 9 July 1944 Oblt.z.S. Helmut Frömsdorf (acting) 18 June – 9 July 1944 Oblt.z.S. Otto Wermuth 10 July – 31 August 1944 K.Kapt. Günter Kuhnke 24 August – 15 October 1944 Oblt.z.S. Helmut Frömsdorf 1 September 1944 – 6 May 1945
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 29 April – 4 July 1944 2nd patrol: a. 27 August – 14 October 1944 b. 6 – 11 February 1945 c. 14 – 17 February 1945 3rd patrol: 23 February – 6 May 1945
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (5,353 GRT) 1 warship sunk (430 tons)

German submarine U-853 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 21 August 1942 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser of Bremen. She was commissioned on 25 June 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Helmut Sommer in command. U-853 saw action during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. She conducted three patrols, sinking two ships totalling 5,353 GRT and 430 tons.

On her final patrol, U-853 was sent to harass United States coastal shipping. She destroyed USS Eagle 56 near Portland, Maine. Just days before Germany's surrender, U-853 torpedoed and sank the collier Black Point during the Battle of Point Judith. The day before Germany surrendered, American warships quickly found U-853 and sank her 7 nmi (13 km; 8.1 mi) east of Block Island, Rhode Island, resulting in the loss of her entire crew.

U-853 is a popular deep sea diving site. She rests in 121 feet (37 m) of water.