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

Career

5 patrols

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

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 1.791 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 7.176 GRT

Fate

Sunk 14 Feb, 1945 in the Northern Sea at the Faeroe 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).

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

Attacks on this boat

7 Jun, 1944
A British Leigh-light equipped Wellington aircraft (Sqdn 179, pilot W. J. Hill) attacked the boat causing damages. A B-24 Liberator and flight of Mosquito aircraft also took place in the attacks which wounded the U-boat commander and forced the boat to return to base. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 583)

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

When U-989 was sunk 2 men managed to escape from the boat. They both died reaching the surface, presumably from escaping the boat too deep. One of the men was the commander, von Roithberg. He died on his 27th birthday.

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-989 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.