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German submarine U-956

Coordinates: 55°50′N 10°05′W / 55.833°N 10.083°W / 55.833; -10.083
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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-956
Ordered10 April 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number156
Laid down20 February 1942
Launched14 November 1942
Commissioned6 January 1943
FateSurrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 17 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 622
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 13 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 18 August – 13 September 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 23 September – 4 November 1943
  • b. 5 – 8 November 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 28 December 1943 – 7 January 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 8 – 18 January 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 25 January – 2 February 1944
  • 6th patrol:
  • 15 February – 2 March 1944
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 23 March – 8 April 1944
  • b. 9 – 12 April 1944
  • c. 3 – 8 June 1944
  • d. 9 – 10 June 1944
  • e. 23 June 1944
  • 8th patrol:
  • a. 26 June – 24 July 1944
  • b. 24 July 1944
  • c. 27 – 28 August 1944
  • d. 28 August
  • 9th patrol:
  • a. 29 August – 5 September 1944
  • b. 6 – 8 September 1944
  • 10th patrol:
  • 14 September – 3 October 1944
  • 11th patrol:
  • 15 October – 24 November 1944
  • 12th patrol:
  • a. 11 December 1944 – 20 January 1945
  • b. 22 – 25 January 1945
  • 13th patrol:
  • 2 April – 13 May 1945
Victories:
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,190 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (7,176 GRT)

German submarine U-956 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 20 February 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 156, launched on 14 November 1942 and commissioned on 6 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Dieter Mohs.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-956 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-956 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

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The boat's career began with training at 5th Flotilla on 6 January 1943, followed by active service on 1 July 1943 as part of the 1st Flotilla.

Fate

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U-956 surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll. She was then transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 29 May 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight and sunk by naval gunfire on 17 December 1945.

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
30 December 1944 Tbilisi  Soviet Union 7,176 Total loss
16 January 1945 Dejatelnyj  Soviet Navy 1,190 Sunk

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gerhard Stoelker". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-956". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2015.

Bibliography

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55°50′N 10°05′W / 55.833°N 10.083°W / 55.833; -10.083