German submarine U-861

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-861
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	1067
Laid down	15 July 1942
Launched	29 April 1943
Commissioned	2 September 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945; Sunk on 31 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight;
General characteristics
Class & type	Type IXD2 submarine
Displacement	1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced; 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) submerged;
Length	87.58 m (287 ft 4 in) o/a; 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in) pressure hull;
Beam	7.50 m (24 ft 7 in) o/a; 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught	5.40 m (17 ft 9 in)
Installed power	9,000 PS (6,620 kW; 8,880 bhp) (diesels); 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) surfaced; 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged;
Range	12,750 nmi (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 57 nmi (106 km; 66 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	55 to 64
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern); 24 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes; 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (150 rounds); 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun ; 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla; 2 September 1943 – 31 March 1944; 12th U-boat Flotilla; 1 April – 30 September 1944; 33rd U-boat Flotilla; 1 October 1944 – 6 May 1945;
Identification codes:	M 54 873
Commanders:	Kptlt. / K.Kapt. Jürgen Oesten; 2 September 1943 – 9 May 1945;
Operations:	2 patrols:; 1st patrol:; a. 20 April – 23 September 1944; b. 1 – 2 November 1944; c. 3 – 5 November 1944; 2nd patrol:; 15 January – 19 April 1945;
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk ; (20,311 GRT); 1 auxiliary warship sunk ; (1,737 GRT); 1 merchant ship damaged ; (8,139 GRT);

German submarine U-861 was a long-range Type IXD2 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Laid down in Bremen and launched on 29 April 1943. She was equipped with two stern torpedo tubes and 24 mines.

She was commanded throughout her service life by Korvettenkapitän Jürgen Oesten (Knight's Cross).

This ship is best known for sinking Vital de Oliveira, the only Brazilian military vessel lost during combat in World War II.

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-861
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	1067
Laid down	15 July 1942
Launched	29 April 1943
Commissioned	2 September 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 Sunk on 31 December 1945 during Operation Deadlight
General characteristics
Class & type	Type IXD2 submarine
Displacement	1,610 t (1,580 long tons) surfaced 1,799 t (1,771 long tons) submerged
Length	87.58 m (287 ft 4 in) o/a 68.50 m (224 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	7.50 m (24 ft 7 in) o/a 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught	5.40 m (17 ft 9 in)
Installed power	9,000 PS (6,620 kW; 8,880 bhp) (diesels) 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) surfaced 6.9 knots (12.8 km/h; 7.9 mph) submerged
Range	12,750 nmi (23,610 km; 14,670 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 57 nmi (106 km; 66 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	55 to 64
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) 24 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (150 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 2 September 1943 – 31 March 1944 12th U-boat Flotilla 1 April – 30 September 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 6 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 54 873
Commanders:	Kptlt. / K.Kapt. Jürgen Oesten 2 September 1943 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	2 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 20 April – 23 September 1944 b. 1 – 2 November 1944 c. 3 – 5 November 1944 2nd patrol: 15 January – 19 April 1945
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk (20,311 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship sunk (1,737 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (8,139 GRT)