History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-76 |
Ordered | 2 June 1938 [1] |
Builder | Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack |
Yard number | 4 |
Laid down | 28 December 1939 [1] |
Launched | 3 October 1940 [1] [2] |
Commissioned | 9 December 1940 [1] [2] |
Fate | Sunk, 5 April 1941 by British warships HMS Wolverine and Scarborough; 1 dead, 42 rescued [1] [2] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIB U-boat |
Displacement | |
Length | |
Beam |
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Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Boats & landing craft carried | 1 inflatable rubber boat |
Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 27 140 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | 2 merchant ships sunk (7,290 GRT) |
German submarine U-76 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She played a minor role in the Battle of the Atlantic, but was destroyed south of Iceland.
German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-76 had a displacement of 753 tonnes (741 long tons) when at the surface and 857 tonnes (843 long tons) while submerged. [3] She had a total length of 66.50 m (218 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 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 BBC 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). [3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). [3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,700 nautical miles (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-76 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 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [3]
She was laid down at Bremer Vulkan in Bremen on 28 December 1939 as yard number 4. She was launched on 3 October 1940 and commissioned on 9 December.
U-76 was available for service from March 1941 following the completion of her working-up period and sea trials. Her commander, Oberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Friedrich von Hippel, had previously served in U-144 during her trials until November the previous year.
Six days into her first and only patrol on 2 April, U-76 sank the Finnish steam merchant ship SS Daphne which was on her way to Lillehammer, Norway. All twenty-two crew members were killed in the attack. [4] [5]
The next day, U-76 followed the mostly British convoy SC 26 travelling from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Liverpool. The U-boat fired a torpedo at the British merchantman SS Athenic, disabling the vessel. The 40 people aboard were rescued by HMS Arbutus. [5]
The attack attracted the attention of the armed escort vessels, who pinpointed her position. Deploying depth charges from HMS Wolverine and Scarborough, U-76 was sunk. Forty-two of her forty-three-man crew survived and were captured.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage [Note 1] | Fate [6] |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 April 1941 | Daphne | Finland | 1,939 | Sunk |
4 April 1941 | Athenic | United Kingdom | 5,351 | Sunk |
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