German submarine U-490

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Inch (DE-146) with prisoners from German submarine U-490 (center, two wearing life vests, one in shirtsleeves) on her quarter deck, awaiting transfer to the escort carrier USS Croatan (CVE-25), 12 June 1944. U-490 had been sunk the previous night. Note the K-guns with fast-sinking streamlined depth charges mounted on the ship's side, 3/50 dual-purpose gun in upper left, photographer and guard with a Thompson submachine gun (both at right).

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Inch (DE-146) with prisoners from German submarine U-490 (center, two wearing life vests, one in shirtsleeves) on her quarter deck, awaiting transfer to the escort carrier USS Croatan (CVE-25), 12 June 1944. U-490 had been sunk the previous night. Note the K-guns with fast-sinking streamlined depth charges mounted on the ship's side, 3/50 dual-purpose gun in upper left, photographer and guard with a Thompson submachine gun (both at right).

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German submarine U-490 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 21 February 1942, by Germaniawerft of Kiel as yard number 559. She was launched on 24 December 1942 and commissioned on 27 March 1943, with Leutnant zur See Wilhelm Gerlach in command. He remained in command throughout the boat's career.

The U-boat's service life commenced with the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 27 March 1943 until 31 March 1944 for training. She then served, for operations, with the 12th flotilla.

Design

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-490 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged.Template:Sfn The U-boat had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .Template:Sfn

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of .Template:Sfn When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-490 was not fitted with torpedo tubes or deck guns, but had two SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a C/30 guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-three.Template:Sfn

Operational career

U-490Template:'s only patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 4 May 1944. She headed for the Atlantic by way of the so-called Faeroes Gap between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands, north of the British Isles.

Although as a supply boat, she avoided combat, she was lost on her first patrol when on 12 June, she was attacked in mid-ocean by the escort carrier and the destroyers , and . There were 60 survivors (no casualties).