German submarine U-284

German submarine U-284 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The submarine was laid down on 1 July 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 49. She was launched on 6 March 1943 and commissioned on 14 April under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günter Scholz.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-284 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. Furthermore, she was equipped with 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-284 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

U-284 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from April to October 1943 and operationally with the 9th flotilla from 1 November. She carried out one patrol, sinking no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.

Patrol

The boat's only patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 23 November 1943. She passed between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean. She was scuttled southeast of Greenland on 21 December 1943, after sustaining sea damage. Her crew were taken off by and taken to Brest in occupied France, arriving on 5 January 1944.