German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-984 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 superchargeddiesel 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, 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-984 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/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 17 June 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1944 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
On 22 January 1944, Maschinenobergefreiter Hermann Keller was lost overboard in the North Atlantic.
On 8 June 1944, U-984 was bombed by an unidentified Allied aircraft and was sufficiently damaged to force a return to base on 9 June
In 5 patrols she accounted for the total loss of 3 merchant ships, for a total of 21,550 gross register tons (GRT), one warship total loss (1,300 tons) and damaged one other merchant ship.
U-984 was sunk on 20 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in the Bay of Biscay in position 48°16′N05°33′W / 48.267°N 5.550°W / 48.267; -5.550, by depth charges from Canadian destroyers HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and HMCS Chaudiere. All hands were lost.
U-984 has subsequently been positively identified as the U-boat sunk on or about 2 August 1944 in the English Channel south-west of Brighton, in position 50.03.732N, 00.32.398W, by unknown cause, with presently no plausible explanation for its loss in the wreck position.[1]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-984". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Debus, Marc; Nell, Alfred (2017). Das letzte Geleit - vom Vorpostenboot zur U-Boot-Flotte : a autobiography. Translated by Toalster, David. Neu Anspach/Germany: Schreibstark-Verlag. ISBN978-3946922193.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-984". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
