German submarine U-488

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-488
Ordered:	17 July 1941
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	557
Laid down:	3 January 1942
Launched:	17 October 1942
Commissioned:	1 February 1943
Fate:	Sunk, 26 April 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 1 February – 30 April 1943 12th U-boat Flotilla 1 May 1943 – 26 April 1944
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Erwin Bartke 1 February 1943 – February 1944 Oblt.z.S. Bruno Studt February – 26 April 1944
Operations:	1st patrol: 18 May – 10 July 1943 2nd patrol: 7 September – 12 December 1943 3rd patrol:22 February – 26 April 1944
Victories:	None

German submarine U-488 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Its keel was laid down on 3 January 1942 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 557. It was launched on 17 October 1942 and commissioned on 1 February 1943, with Leutnant zur See Erwin Bartke in command. Bartke was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See by February 1944; he was relieved by Oblt.z.S. Bruno Studt.

The boat's service began with training under the 4th U-boat Flotilla and culminated with the 12th flotilla for operations.

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on. U-488 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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