German submarine U-490

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-490
Ordered:	17 July 1941
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	559
Laid down:	21 February 1942
Launched:	24 December 1942
Commissioned:	27 March 1943
Fate:	Sunk, 12 June 1944
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) anti-aircraft guns 1 × 2 cm (0.8 in) AA gun
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 27 March 1943 – 31 March 1944 12th U-boat Flotilla 1 April 1943 – 12 June 1944
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Gerlach 27 March 1943 – 12 June 1944
Operations:	1st patrol: 22 July – 4 August 1943
Victories:	None

German submarine U-490 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 21 February 1942, by Germaniawerft of Kiel as yard number 559. She was launched on 24 December 1942 and commissioned on 27 March 1943, with Leutnant zur See Wilhelm Gerlach in command. He remained in command throughout the boat's short career.

The U-boat's service life commenced with the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 27 March 1943 to 31 March 1944 (for training). She then served, for operations, with the 12th flotilla.

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-490 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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