German submarine U-294

German submarine U-294 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 22 December 1942 by the Bremer Vulkan Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as 'werk' 59, launched on 27 August 1943, and commissioned on 4 October with Oberleutnant Heinz Schütt in command.

In five patrols, she sank or damaged no ships.

She surrendered at Narvik in Norway in May 1945 and was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight in December 1945.

Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in October 1943. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 6 November and moved again to the 14th flotilla on 1 March 1945.

1st and 2nd patrols
U-294's first patrol took her to northeast of the Shetland Islands. It was preceded by a short voyage between Kiel in Germany and Stavanger in Norway in May 1944.

More brief sojourns followed, using Bergen, Flekkefjord and Kiel.

The boat's second 'official' patrol was between 18 and 24 September 1944.

3rd and 4th patrols
The submarine's third sortie took her as far as the North Sea.

More short voyages were carried out, using Flekkefjord, Horten and Tönsberg in October and November 1944.

Her fourth patrol started and finished in Bergen, but included a stop in Trondheim.

5th patrol and fate
U-294 departed Narvik and arrived at Harstad (northwest of Narvik), before going on to Skjomenfjord, in April 1945.

She arrived at Loch Eriboll in northern Scotland on 19 May 1945 and then moved to Lisahally (Londonderry port), for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk by gunfire from HMS Offa and Zealous on 31 December.