German submarine U-245

German submarine U-245 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 18 November 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 679, launched on 25 November 1943 and commissioned on 18 December under the command of Korvettenkapitän Friederich Schumann-Hindenberg.
In three patrols, she sank three ships of 17,087 GRT.
She surrendered to the Allies on 9 May 1945.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-245 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 Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 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-245 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun,, one Flak M42 and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a crew complement of between forty-four and sixty.

After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-245 was transferred to the 3rd flotilla for front-line service on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 33rd flotilla on 1 October.

The boat's first patrol was preceded by a short trip between Kiel and Horten Naval Base in Norway. Her first sortie began with her departure from Horten on 14 August 1944. She passed into the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The boat was attacked by a Catalina flying boat on 30 September. No casualties or damage was sustained.

U-245 sank Henry B. Plant about east of Ramsgate on 5 February 1945.

She also sank Filleigh and Karmt, both on 18 April and both about east southeast of North Foreland in Kent.
The boat surrendered at Bergen on 9 May 1945 and was transferred to Loch Ryan for scuttling in Operation Deadlight. She was scuttled on 7 December 1945.