German submarine U-779
German submarine U-779 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was ordered on 20 January 1941, and was laid down on 21 July 1943, at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 162. She was launched on 17 June 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Johann Stegmann on 24 August 1944.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-779 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-779 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one SK C/35 naval gun,, one Flak M42 and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.
Service history
U-779 did not participate in any war patrols.On 5 May 1945, U-779 surrendered at Cuxhaven, Germany. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 24 June 1945, from Wilhelmshaven. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-779 was one of 116 selected to take part in Operation Deadlight. U-779 was towed out and sank on 17 December 1945, by gunfire from the British destroyer and the frigate.
The wreck now lies at.