German submarine U-487

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-487
Ordered:	17 July 1941
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	556
Laid down:	31 December 1941
Launched:	17 October 1942
Commissioned:	21 December 1942
Fate:	Sunk, 13 July 1943
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean-going submarine tanker
Displacement:	1,688 t (1,661 long tons) surfaced 1,932 t (1,901 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 48.51 m (159 ft 2 in) pressure hull
Beam:	9.35 m (30 ft 8 in) o/a 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height:	11.70 m (38 ft 5 in)
Draught:	6.51 m (21 ft 4 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:	14.4–14.9 knots (26.7–27.6 km/h; 16.6–17.1 mph) surfaced 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h; 7.1 mph) submerged
Range:	12,350 nmi (22,870 km; 14,210 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	240 m (790 ft)
Complement:	6 officers and 47 enlisted
Armament:	2 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 anti-aircraft guns 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 21 December 1942 – 31 March 1943 12th U-boat Flotilla 1 April 1943 – 13 July 1943
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Helmut Metz 21 December 1942 – 13 July 1943
Operations:	1st patrol: 27 March – 12 May 1943 2nd patrol: 15 June – 13 July 1943
Victories:	None

German submarine U-487 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down 31 December 1941 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 556. She was launched on 17 October 1942 and commissioned on 21 December 1942 with Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Metz in command. Metz commanded the boat for its entire career.

Her service began with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla. She then joined the 12th flotilla for operations.

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-487 had a displacement of 1,688 tonnes (1,661 long tons) when at the surface and 1,932 tonnes (1,901 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.51 m (159 ft 2 in), a beam of 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in), a height of 11.70 m (38 ft 5 in), and a draught of 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2,800–3,200 metric horsepower (2,060–2,350 kW; 2,760–3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 240 metres (790 ft).

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