⚓ Shipwrecks Map

U-490 1944

U-490: German prisoners aboard USS Inch on 12 June 1944
Image: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Marker: recorded wreck position (Second World War).

Key facts

NameU-490Wikidata label
Year lost1944Wikidata P793 significant event, point-in-time qualifier
EraSecond World Warderived from year
Ship typeU-boatWikidata P31 instance of
Nationality / flagNazi GermanyWikidata P8047 country of registry
OperatorKriegsmarineWikidata P137 operator
ConflictBattle of the AtlanticWikidata P607 conflict
Sea / oceanNorth Atlantic OceanNatural Earth marine areas (public domain), point-in-polygon
Position42.7800, -40.1300Wikidata P793 significant event, coordinate qualifier (CC0)

About the wreck

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 career.

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

Location

  • Recorded position: 42.7800, -40.1300 (Wikidata P793 significant event, coordinate qualifier (CC0); may be approximate)
  • Sea / ocean: North Atlantic Ocean

Wreck positions on this site are for interest only and are not for navigation. Many wrecks are war graves or legally protected: never disturb human remains or remove artefacts, and check local law before diving.

OpenStreetMap

Text adapted from the Wikipedia article German submarine U-490 (revision 1367187736), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: excerpted from the article lead section; condensed by selecting paragraphs; citations and formatting removed. No text added. This excerpt is available under the same licence.

Wreck facts from Wikidata (CC0).

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Further reading