German submarine U-488

German submarine U-488 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 3 January 1942 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as 'werk' 557. She was launched on 17 October 1942 and commissioned on 1 February 1943, with Leutnant zur See Erwin Bartke in command. Bartke was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See by February 1944; he was relieved by Oblt. Bruno Studt.

The boat's service began with training under the 4th U-boat Flotilla and culminated with the 12th flotilla for operations.

Operational career
U-488 conducted three patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.

1st patrol
U-488's first patrol commenced when she left Kiel on 18 May 1943. She cleared the British Isles, sailing through the gap between the Faeroe Islands and Iceland and out into the central Atlantic. On the return journey, she passed to the northwest of the Azores and reached Bordeaux in occupied France on 10 July 1943.

2nd patrol
She was attacked on her second patrol on 12 October 1943 by two Avengers from the escort carrier USS Card. The aircraft claimed a sinking, but U-488 was able to continue her mission.

On 15 October, Maschinenmaat Karl Bergmann died of an illness. On 25 November, Matrosenobergefreiter Heinz Heinlein fell overboard. He was rescued, but died of heart failure shortly afterwards.

The U-boat returned to Bordeaux on 12 December 1943.

3rd patrol and loss
The boat departed Bordeaux for the last time on 22 April 1944. U-488 was sunk with all hands (64 dead) on the 26th in the mid-Atlantic west of Cape Verde by depth charges from the American destroyer escorts USS Frost, Huse, Barber and Snowden''.