List of all U-boats

U-486

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down8 May 1943 Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 321)
Launched12 Feb 1944
Commissioned22 Mar 1944Oblt. Gerhard Meyer
Commanders
22 Mar 1944 - 12 Apr 1945  Oblt. (R) Gerhard Meyer (German Cross in Gold)
Career
2 patrols
22 Mar 1944-31 Oct 1944  5. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1944-12 Apr 1945  11. Flottille (active service)
Successes2 ships sunk, total tonnage 17,651 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,085 tons
1 warship a total loss, total tonnage 1,085 tons
Fate

Sunk on 12 April 1945 in the North Sea north-west of Bergen, Norway, in position 60.44N, 04.39E by a torpedo from the British submarine HMS Tapir. 48 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-486 - View the 2 war patrols

Attacks on this boat and other events

30 Dec 1944
The target of the depth charge attack by a Canadian Wellington (RCAF Sqdn. 407/L) on 30 Dec 1944 in the English Channel south of Weymouth in position 50.05N, 02.31W, formerly credited with sinking U-772, was most probably U-486, which escaped unharmed. (Sources: 2005-01-01, Axel Niestle)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

24 Dec 1944. Sinking of SS Leopoldville
On Christmas Eve 1944 U-486 torpedoed the SS Leopoldville in the English Channel 5 miles from the port of Cherbourg, France. The troopship was transporting 2235 American soldiers from regiments of the 66th Infantry Division. The ship finally sank 2 1/2 hours later. Everything that could, went wrong: calls for help were mishandled, rescue craft were slow to the scene and the weather was unfavourable. 763 American soldiers died that night, making this the worst loss an American infantry division suffered from a U-boat attack during the war.


The location of the sinking

The Allied authorities were embarrassed by the incident and decided to bury the case. Many loved ones were told the men were missing in action although they were already dead by then, later to be classified as killed in action. The files were not opened to the public until 1996.

U-486 had not said her last word, as she sank the British frigates HMS Affleck and Capel only two days later in the same area, before returning on 15 Jan, 1945 to Bergen, Norway.

The wreck of the SS Leopoldville was discovered by Clive Cussler with the help of his shipwreck-hunting organization NUMA (National Underwater & Marine Agency). His book The Sea Hunters contains a chapter on the sinking which describes the incident from eyewitness accounts, and includes the story of the wreck's discovery.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in October 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-486 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Archer

Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)


S.S. Leopoldville Disaster

Andrade, Allan


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


A Night before Christmas

Sanders, Jacquin


Submarines versus U-boats

Jones, Geoffrey




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