German submarine U-458

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-458
Ordered	16 January 1940
Builder	Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Yard number	289
Laid down	16 October 1940
Launched	4 October 1941
Commissioned	12 December 1941
Fate	Sunk on 22 August 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°25′N 12°39′E / 36.417°N 12.650°E, by depth charges from HMS Easton and the Greek escort destroyer Pindos.
General characteristics
Class & type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × torpedoes; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 12 December 1941 – 30 June 1942; 3rd U-boat Flotilla; 1 July – 31 October 1942; 29th U-boat Flotilla; 1 November 1942 – 22 August 1943;
Identification codes:	M 42 437
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Kurt Diggins; 12 December 1941 – 22 August 1943;
Operations:	7 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 21 June – 27 August 1942; 2nd patrol:; 1 – 15 October 1942; 3rd patrol:; 26 October – 15 November 1942; 4th patrol:; a. 6 February – 11 March 1943; b. 19 May 1943; 5th patrol:; 25 – 31 May 1943; 6th patrol:; 21 June - 6 July 1943; 7th patrol:; 14 – 22 August 1943;
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk ; (7,584 GRT)

German submarine U-458 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 16 October 1940 by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel as yard number 289, launched on 4 October 1941 and commissioned on 12 December 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Diggins.

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-458
Ordered	16 January 1940
Builder	Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel
Yard number	289
Laid down	16 October 1940
Launched	4 October 1941
Commissioned	12 December 1941
Fate	Sunk on 22 August 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°25′N 12°39′E / 36.417°N 12.650°E / 36.417; 12.650, by depth charges from HMS Easton and the Greek escort destroyer Pindos.
General characteristics
Class & type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 12 December 1941 – 30 June 1942 3rd U-boat Flotilla 1 July – 31 October 1942 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1942 – 22 August 1943
Identification codes:	M 42 437
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Kurt Diggins 12 December 1941 – 22 August 1943
Operations:	7 patrols: 1st patrol: 21 June – 27 August 1942 2nd patrol: 1 – 15 October 1942 3rd patrol: 26 October – 15 November 1942 4th patrol: a. 6 February – 11 March 1943 b. 19 May 1943 5th patrol: 25 – 31 May 1943 6th patrol: 21 June - 6 July 1943 7th patrol: 14 – 22 August 1943
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk (7,584 GRT)