German submarine U-276

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-276
Ordered10 April 1941
Builder Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number41
Laid down24 February 1942
Launched24 October 1942
Commissioned9 December 1942
FateDe-commissioned on 29 September 1944. Employed as a floating electrical generator. Sunk on 3 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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 [1] [2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 169
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Jürgen Thimme
  • 9 December 1942 – 19 October 1943
  • Kptlt. Rolf Borchers
  • 20 October 1943 – 18 July 1944
  • Kptlt. Heinz Zwang
  • 19 July – 29 September 1944
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 22 March – 6 April 1944
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 18 April – 2 May 1944
  • b. 24 – 25 May 1944
  • c. 28 – 31 May 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 8 – 25 June 1944
  • b. 28 June 1944
  • c. 1 – 6 July 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-276 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

The submarine was laid down on 24 February 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 41. She was launched on 24 October and commissioned on 9 December under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Thimme. [1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-276 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [3] 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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). [3]

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). [3] 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-276 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [3]

Service history

U-276 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from December 1942 to February 1944 and operationally with the 1st U-boat Flotilla from 1 March 1944. [1] She was then reassigned to the 31st U-boat Flotilla on 1 July. She carried out three patrols, but sank no ships.

She was 'stricken' in September 1944 at Neustadt and used as a floating electrical generating plant. She was scuttled in May 1945.

She carried out short voyages between Kiel in Germany and Bergen and Trondheim in Norway over February and March 1944.

First patrol

The boat departed Trondheim on 22 March 1944 and returned to the Norwegian port fifteen days later on 6 April.

Second patrol

Her second sortie was relatively uneventful, apart from two crew members being wounded in an accident with the anti-aircraft gun.

Third patrol

By now the boat was based at Stavanger, from where she departed on 8 June 1944. She returned there on the 25th.

The submarine sailed back to Kiel in July 1944.

Fate

The boat was 'stricken' at Neustadt on 29 September 1944 and re-employed as a floating electrical generator. On 3 May 1945, the U-boat was damaged in a rocket attack by four Hawker Typhoons of No. 175 Squadron RAF. As a result of the damage, she was scuttled later that same day. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-276". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-276". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ↑ Hofmann, Markus. "U 276". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

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