Name U-956 Yard number 1588 Commissioned 6 January 1943 Launched 14 November 1942 Draft 4.74 m Builder Schichau-Werke | Ordered 10 April 1941 Laid down 20 February 1942 Construction started 20 February 1942 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | |
Fate Surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll | ||
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 Schichau-Werke, Danzig as yard number 1588, launched on 14 November 1942 and commissioned on 6 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Stoelker.
Contents
Design
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. 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).
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). 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
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
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.