German submarine U-29 was a Type VIIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 2 January 1936, launched on 29 August and commissioned on 10 November. During her career U-29 was involved in seven war patrols under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart.

Design

As one of the first ten German Type VII submarines later designated as Type VIIA submarines, U-29 had a displacement of 626 t when at the surface and 745 t while submerged. She had a total length of 64.51 m, a pressure hull length of 45.50 m, a beam of 5.85 m, a height of 9.50 m, and a draught of 4.37 m. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2100 to 2310 PS for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 8 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 73 - 94 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 6200 nmi at 10 kn. U-29 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

U-29 was responsible for sinking the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous (50), on 17 September 1939, the first British warship sunk in the war by enemy action. The commander of the German submarine force, Commodore Karl Dönitz, regarded the sinking of Courageous as "a wonderful success" and Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, commander of the Kriegsmarine (German navy), directed that Schuhart be awarded the Iron Cross First Class and that all other members of the U-29 crew receive the Iron Cross Second Class. During U-29's career, she sank twelve ships, totaling and one warship of 22,500 tons. At the beginning of 1941, U-29 was removed from front line duty and reassigned to the 24th U-boat Flotilla as a training submarine. The U-boat was used in this role until 17 April 1944 when she was decommissioned and used for instruction.

Fate

U-29 was scuttled in Kupfermühlen Bay, (east of Flensburg), on 5 May 1945 as part of Operation Regenbogen. The wreck was still in situ as of 1993.

Wolfpacks

U-29 took part in one wolfpack, namely:

Emblem

U-29's emblem was an oak leaf, with an anchor, and a knife or dagger. She also shared this emblem with GS U-3 (1935), GS U-120 (1940), GS U-747, GS U-1274 and GS U-1308.

Summary of raiding history

Citations