U-989

Type

VIIC

Ordered

25 May 1941

Laid down

17 Oct 1942

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 189)

Launched

16 Jun 1943

Commissioned

22 Jul 1943

Oblt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg

Commanders

22 Jul 1943

14 Feb 1945

Kptlt. Hardo Rodler von Roithberg (German Cross in Gold)

Career
5 patrols

22 Jul 1943	-	31 Jan 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1944	-	30 Sep 1944	9. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	14 Feb 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 1,791 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 7,176 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 14 February 1945 in the Norwegian Sea north of the Shetland Islands, in position 61.36N, 01.35W, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS Bayntun, HMS Bratwaite, HMS Loch Eck and HMS Loch Dunvegan. 47 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-989 - View the 5 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-989 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Stürmer (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 1 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

7 Jun 1944
A Leigh Light attack by a British Wellington bomber (179 Sqn RAF, pilot W.J. Hill) in the Bay of Biscay caused minor damage. A B-24 Liberator and a flight of Mosquitos then joined in, wounding the U-boat commander and forcing U-989 to return to base. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 583)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

14 Feb 1945. Two men managed to escape after U-989 was sunk, but both died before reaching the surface. One was the commander, Oblt Hardo von Roithberg. It was his 27th birthday.