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 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-779 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
U-779 did not participated in any war patrols.

On 5 May 1945, U-779 surrendered at Cuxhaven, Germany. She was later transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 2 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 HMS Onslow (G17) and the frigate HMS Cubitt (K512).

The wreck now lies at 55.83333°N, -10.08333°W.