German submarine U-756

Last updated
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-756
Ordered9 October 1939 [1]
Builder Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number139
Laid down18 January 1940 [1]
Launched18 October 1941 [1]
Commissioned30 December 1941 [1]
FateSunk on 1 September 1942 [1]
General characteristics
Class & type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
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
Part of
Identification codesM 39 246
Commanders
Operations
  • 1 patrol:
  • 15 August – 1 September 1942
VictoriesNone

German submarine U-756 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Laid down as yard number 139 at the Kriegsmarinewerft (KMW) in Wilhelmshaven, she served with 6th U-boat flotilla from 30 December 1941 until 1 September 1942 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Klaus Harney. [1] U-756 did not survive to complete her first patrol and did not sink or damage any ships.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-756 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-756 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [2]

Fate

Eighteen days into her first patrol, [3] on 1 September 1942 U-756 was in position 58°08′N27°33′W / 58.133°N 27.550°W / 58.133; -27.550 in the mid North-Atlantic [4] when she was attacked by the Canadian corvette HMCS Morden. Heavily damaged, the vessel went down with all 43 aboard.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-756". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-756". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of German U-boat U-756 from 15 August 1942 to 1 September 1942". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

Bibliography