French submarine Laubie (S610)

Last updated
U-766.svg
Insignia of U-766
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-766
Ordered15 August 1940
Builder Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number149
Laid down1 March 1941
Launched29 May 1943
Commissioned30 July 1943
Decommissioned24 August 1944
FateSurrendered on 8 May 1945. Transferred to French Navy
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svgFrance
NameLaubie
Namesake Louis Laubie
Acquired8 May 1945
Commissioned1946
In service1946
Out of service1961
Identification Pennant number: S610
FateBroken up in 1963
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)
Beam6.20 m (20 ft 4 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
PropulsionDiesel-electric
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi)
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record (Kriegsmarine) [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 53 610
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Dietrich Wilke
  • 30 July 1943 – 24 August 1944
Operations:
  • 5 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 23 March – 16 April 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 – 15 June 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 26 – 30 July 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 2 – 6 August 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 8 – 21 August 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-766 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the navy ( Kriegsmarine ) of Nazi Germany during World War II. She was later incorporated in the French Navy, where she served as Laubie.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-766 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-766 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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [2]

Service history

Kriegsmarine

U-766 was launched in Wilhelmshaven on 29 May 1943, and was commissioned on 30 July 1943 under the command Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Dietrich Wilke. She was part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training until 29 February 1944, when she was transferred to the frontline in the 6th U-boat flotilla. [1]

She sailed five uneventful patrols. [3]

She was de-commissioned at La Rochelle on 24 August 1944, and was surrendered on 8 May 1945.

Marine Nationale

In May 1945 U-766 was transferred to France and brought into French service under captain Brunet. She was in a poor shape, and pieces of U-415 were used to repair her. In the process, she was also fitted with a snorkel. Her trials were accomplished by a mostly German crew composed of war prisoners, with Wilke acting as first officer. [4]

U-766 was commissioned in 1946 as Laubie (pennant number: S610), in honour of Louis Laubie, an engineer killed in the wreck of the submarine Protée. [5]

Laubie was transferred to Toulon. On 17 July 1950, Laubie was accidentally rammed by the frigate Surprise as she was emerging. She managed to surface and return to Casablanca with a heavily damaged sail. [5]

In 1956, Laubie took part in naval operations of the Suez crisis as a backup to Créole. [6] On 2 May 1960, Laubie was again rammed, this time by the liner Ville de Marseille, off Algiers. Her stern was damaged over 9 metres. [4] She sustained one last accident in September 1961, when she collided with Espadon at periscope depth. Severely damaged, Laubie was decommissioned, and broken up in 1963. [4]

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-337 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-258 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack on 20 March 1941 as yard number 23. She was launched on 13 December and commissioned on 4 February 1942.

German submarine U-267 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 9 August 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 32, launched on 23 May 1942 and commissioned on 11 July 1942. She took part in seven patrols between 11 July 1942 and when she was scuttled at the war's end. She neither sank nor damaged any ships. U-267 was scuttled in Geltinger Bucht on 5 May 1945, later raised and broken up.

German submarine U-263 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 8 June 1941 at the Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft (yard) in Bremen as yard number 28. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and commissioned on 6 May under the command of Kapitänleutnant Kurt Nölke.

German submarine <i>U-1064</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1064 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 23 September 1943 by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel as yard number 701, launched on 22 June 1944 and commissioned on 29 July 1944 under Korvettenkapitän Karl-Hermann Schneidewind.

German submarine <i>U-1274</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1274 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was ordered on 13 June 1942, and was laid down on 21 June 1943 by Vegesacker Werft AG, Bremen as yard number 69, launched on 25 January 1944 and commissioned on 1 March 1944 under Oberleutnant zur See Fedor Kuscher.

German submarine U-1203 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 May 1943 by Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1573, launched on 9 December 1943 and commissioned on 10 February 1944 under Oberleutnant zur See Erich Steinbrink.

German submarine U-749 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 28 September 1942 by Schichau-Werke of Danzig. She was commissioned on 14 August 1943 with Tenente di vascello Alberto Longhi in command.

German submarine <i>U-999</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-999 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1007</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1007 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1010</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1010 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-903</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-903 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-904</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-904 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-924</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-924 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-926</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-926 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-982</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-982 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1101</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1101 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1161</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1161 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1204</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1204 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-1210</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-1210 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-766". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-766". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 "S 610 : LAUBIE - Section RUBIS". www.sectionrubis.fr. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  5. 1 2 "DATES MARQUANTES ET ANECDOTES DU PORT DE LA ROCHELLE-PALLICE". francois.delboca.free.fr. Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  6. Paterson, Lawrence (2009). Black Flag: The Surrender of Germany's U-Boat Force. MBI Publishing Company. p. 154. ISBN   978-0-7603-3754-7.

Bibliography