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 when at the surface and while submerged. She 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 MAN M 6 V 40/46 four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 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 .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-29 was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), eleven torpedoes, one 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 , 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.Blair, p. 91

During U-29s 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, to avoid her surrender, at the end of World War II. The wreck was still in situ as of 1993.

Wolfpacks U-29 took part in one wolfpack, namely: Rösing (12 – 15 June 1940)

Emblem U-29s emblem was an oak leaf, with an anchor, and a knife or dagger. She also shared this emblem with , , , and .

Summary of raiding history DateName of ShipNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate8 September 1939Regent Tiger10,176Sunk13 September 1939Neptunia798Sunk14 September 1939British Influence8,431Sunk17 September 193922,500Sunk 3 March 1940Cato710Sunk (mine)4 March 1940Pacific Reliance6,717Sunk4 March 1940Thurston3,072Sunk16 March 1940Slava4,512Sunk (mine)26 June 1940Dimitris5,254Sunk1 July 1940Adamastos7,466Sunk2 July 1940Athellaird8,999Sunk2 July 1940Santa Margarita4,919Sunk25 September 1940Eurymedon6,223Sunk

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External links

The sinking of HMS Courageous