German submarine U-49 (1939)

German submarine U-49 was a Type VIIB U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 21 November 1936 in defiance of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and laid down on 15 September 1938 at the yards of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel as Werk 584. Launched on 24 June 1939, she was commissioned on 12 August and assigned to the 7th U-Boat Flotilla under the command of Kurt von Goßler.

First patrol
Following training exercises, U-49 departed on her first active patrol on 9 November 1939. She was attacked by allied forces twice during this time. On 13 November she was bombed by British aircraft and forced down to 160 meters (525 feet), suffering minor damage. Three days later, she was located by the British destroyers HMS Echo (H23) and HMS Wanderer (D74) and depth charged. The submarine was forced to dive to 170 m to escape.

At 09.35 hours on 19 November U-49 came into contact with the 4,258 ton British merchant ship SS Pensilva carrying a cargo of 6,985 tons of maize. A bow torpedo at 11.15 hours and a stern shot at 11.24 both missed their mark, but a third fired at 12.19 hit, and the ship sank slowly by the stern at position 46.85°N, -11.6°W. The ship's master and crew were picked up by HMS Echo and later landed at Plymouth by HMS Wanderer.

Second patrol
U-49 's second patrol began 29 February 1940 at Kiel and lasted only six days in the North Sea. No ships were attacked on this patrol, and she made port at Wilhelmshaven on 5 March 1940.

Third patrol
On 11 March 1940, U-49 departed Wilhelmshaven for the Norwegian coast, in 19 days at sea, no ships were attacked and the submarine returned to Wilhelmshaven on 29 March 1940.

Fourth patrol
3 April 1940 saw the beginning of U-49{'} fourth and final patrol. In thirteen days off the Norwegian coast, no ships were attacked.

Fate
On 15 April 1940, U-49 was sunk near Harstad, Norway in position 68.88333°N, 16.98333°W by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Fearless (H67) and HMS Brazen (H80). Of her crew of 42, one man died but there were 41 survivors.

Wreck Site
The wreck of U-49 was found on 3 March 1993 by the Norwegian submarine HNOMS Skolpen (S306). She lies at a depth of 300 meters (984 feet).