View source for German submarine U-877

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=
|Ship image size=
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''U-877''
|Ship ordered=2 April 1942<ref name=U877>{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u877.htm
 |title=The Type IXC/40 boat U-877
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date=25 August 2010
}}</ref>
|Ship builder=[[AG Weser]], [[Bremen]]<ref name=U877 />
|Ship yard number=1085<ref name=U877 />
|Ship laid down=22 May 1943<ref name=U877 />
|Ship launched=10 December 1943<ref name=U877 />
|Ship commissioned=24 March 1944<ref name=U877 />
|Ship fate=Sunk by {{HMCS|St. Thomas|K488|6}} on 27 December 1944<ref name=U877 />
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[German Type IX submarine#Type IXC/40|Type IXC/40]] [[submarine]]
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|1144|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|1257|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=
*{{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[o/a]]
*{{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[pressure hull]]
|Ship beam=
*{{convert|6.86|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
*{{convert|4.44|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull
|Ship height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|4.67|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
*{{convert|4400|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|1000|PS|kW shp|-1|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=
*2 shafts
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[Motor-generator|electric motors]]
|Ship speed=
*{{convert|18.3|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|7.3|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=
*{{convert|13,850|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|63|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=4 officers, 44 enlisted
|Ship armament=*6 × [[torpedo tube]]s (4 bow, 2 stern)
*22 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo]]es
*1 × [[10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun|{{convert|10.5|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/32]] [[deck gun]] (180 rounds)
*1 × [[3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|abbr=on}} Flak M42]] AA gun
*2 x twin [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] AA guns
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=Service record
|partof=
*[[4th U-boat Flotilla]]
*24 March – 30 November 1944
*[[33rd U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 – 27 December 1944
|codes=M 50 294
|commanders=
*''[[Kptlt.]]'' Eberhard Findeisen
*24 March – 27 December 1944
|operations=*1 patrol:
*25 November – 27 December 1944
|victories=None
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-877''''' was a [[German Type IXC/40 submarine|Type IXC/40]] [[U-boat]] of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. The ship was ordered on 2 April 1942, [[keel laying|laid down]] on 22 May 1943, and [[launch (ship)|launch]]ed on 10 December 1943. She was [[commission (ship)|commission]]ed into the ''Kriegsmarine'' under the command of ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' Eberhard Findeisen on 24 March 1944.<ref name=U877 /> Initially assigned to the [[4th U-boat Flotilla]], she was transferred to the [[33rd U-boat Flotilla]] on 1 December 1944.<ref name=U877 />

==Design==
[[German Type IX submarine#Type IXC/40|German Type IXC/40 submarines]] were slightly larger than the original [[German Type IX submarine#Type IXC|Type IXC]]s. ''U-877'' had a displacement of {{convert|1144|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1257|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|6.86|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|4.67|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[MAN SE|MAN]] M 9 V 40/46 [[supercharged]] four-stroke, nine-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s producing a total of {{convert|4400|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] 2 GU 345/34 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|1000|shp|PS kW|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.92|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} [[propeller]]s. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|18.3|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.3|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|63|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|13850|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ''U-877'' was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 [[torpedo]]es, one [[10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun|{{convert|10.5|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} SK C/32 naval gun]], 180 rounds, and a [[3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|abbr=on}} Flak M42]] as well as two twin [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of forty-eight.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

==Service history==
She carried out a single war patrol, departing [[Karljohansvern|Horten Naval Base]] on 25 November 1944. Two days later she was attacked by [[Bristol Beaufighter]]s of [[No. 489 Squadron RNZAF|No. 489 Squadron]], which launched two [[depth charge]]s at her. She crash dived, escaping the attackers, but losing her radar antenna.<ref name=U877 />

''U-877'' was attacked on 27 December 1944 in the North Atlantic, north-west of the Azores, by the [[Royal Canadian Navy]]'s {{sclass2|Castle|corvette}} {{HMCS|St. Thomas|K488|6}}. She was badly damaged by ''St. Thomas''{{'}}s [[Squid (weapon)|squid mortar]] and sank at position {{coord|46|25|N|36|38|W|display=inline,title}}, after her crew had abandoned ship. All 56 were picked up by ''St. Thomas''.<ref name=U877 />

The end of the submarine and the friendship that develops between both captains is described in the book "Ne Tirez Pas" (Don't shoot) written by Jean-Louis Morgan and Linda Sinclair published by Edition l'Archipel {{ISBN|9782809800135}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |title=Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |date=1999|volume=IV |publisher=Mittler|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXKwAAAAIAAJ |language=de}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Eric |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |translator-last1=Thomas|translator-first1=Keith|translator-last2=Magowan|translator-first2=Rachel |title=German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |date=1991 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |volume=2 |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Udg-0AEACAAJ|ref=CITEREFGröner1991}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u877.htm
 |title=The Type IXC/40 boat U-877
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date=25 August 2010
}}

{{German Type IXC/40 submarines}}
{{December 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0877}}
[[Category:German Type IX submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1944]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1944]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by Canadian warships]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bremen (state)]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in December 1944]]