Unterseeboot 490
Unterseeboot 490 (U-490) was a
Type XIV U-boat ("
Milchkuh") of the
Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down
21 February 1942, by Germaniawerft of
Kiel. She was commissioned
27 March 1943, with
Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm Gerlach in command, who remained in command for the boat's entire career.
On 12 June 1944, north-west of the Azores, while on her first
patrol, U-490 was sunk by depth charges from the US escort carrier
USS Croatan, and destroyer escorts
USS Frost, USS Huse and
USS Inch. All 60 of her crew survived.