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History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-990
Ordered	25 May 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	190
Laid down	17 October 1942
Launched	16 June 1943
Commissioned	28 July 1943
Fate	Sunk on 25 May 1944 in the Norwegian Sea by depth charges from a RAF Liberator bomber
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern); 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun;
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla; 28 July – 31 December 1943; 11th U-boat Flotilla; 1 January – 25 May 1944;
Identification codes:	M 54 093
Commanders:	Kptlt. Hubert Nordheimer; 28 July 1943 – 25 May 1944;
Operations:	4 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 26 January – 28 February 1944; 2nd patrol:; 4 – 27 March 1944; 3rd patrol: ; a. 31 March – 5 April 1944; b. 8 – 12 April 1944; 4th patrol:; 22 – 25 May 1944;
Victories:	1 warship sunk ; (1,920 tons)

German submarine U-990 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 190, launched on 16 June 1943 and commissioned on 28 July 1943 under Kapitänleutnant Hubert Nordheimer.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-990 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, and two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).^[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-990 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a crew sized between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th Flotilla on 28 July 1943, followed by active service on 1 January 1944 as part of the 11th Flotilla.

Wolfpacks

U-990 took part in four wolfpacks, namely:

Werwolf (28 January – 27 February 1944)
Orkan (5 – 10 March 1944)
Hammer (10 – 26 March 1944)
Blitz (2 – 4 April 1944)

Fate

U-990 was sunk on 25 May 1944 in the Norwegian Sea at 65°05′N 07°28′E / 65.083°N 7.467°E / 65.083; 7.467 after being depth charged by a RAF Liberator bomber of 59 Squadron.

Sqn Ldr B. Sisson sighted U-990 on the surface at 06:23 and attacked under cover of a rain squall, dropping six depth charges. Following the attack, the submarine could be seen sinking amid a large oil slick.^[3]

There were 20 crew killed, and 33 survivors.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 1]}	Fate^[4]
25 February 1944	HMS Mahratta	Royal Navy	1,920	Sunk

References

Notes

^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hubert Nordheimer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
^ Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-990". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.