Unterseeboot 459

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.