German submarine U-980

German submarine U-980 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 5 June 1941, and was laid down on 10 August 1942 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 180. She was launched on 15 April 1943 and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hermann Dahms on 27 May 1943.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-980 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-980 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

Service history
On 11 March 1944, nine days out of Bergen on her first, and only war patrol, U-980 was sunk by depth charges north of the Shetland Islands, in the Norwegian Sea. U-980 was attacked by a Canadian Canso of 162 Squadron/B RCAF. All Fifty-two of her crew were lost.

The wreck is located at 63.11667°N, 0.43333°W.