Unterseeboot 459 (U-459) was a
Type XIV U-boat ("
Milchkuh") of the
Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down
November 22,
1940 by
Deutsche Werke[?] of
Kiel. The
submarine was commissioned
November 15,
1941, with
Käpitanleutnant Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff in command, who remained in command until the boat was lost, receiving a promotion to
Korvettenkapitän in the process.
U-459 conducted six patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.
On May 30, 1943, she shot down a British Whitley aircraft.
On July 24, 1943, U-459 was attacked by two British Wellington
aircraft near Cape Ortegal[?], Spain. The boat shot down one of the
Wellingtons, but 19 of her crew were killed and she was so heavily
damaged by this attack that she had to be scuttled. 41 of her crew survived.
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