Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-296

Type VIIC/41 submarine

Displacement
747 long tons (759 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-2963 November 1943 — 12 March 1945495 days of the war
Type VIIC/41 submarine Particulars
Name
U-296
Builder
Bremer Vulkan Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Ordered
14 October 1941
Laid down
23 January 1943
Launched
5 September 1943
Commissioned
3 November 1943
Fate
Sunk 12 March 1945 in the western entrance of the Northern Channel by a British mine
By mine (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
747 long tons (759 t)
Displacement, submerged
846 long tons (860 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-296 was a Type VIIC/41 submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Bremer Vulkan Werft, Bremen-Vegesack laid her keel on 23 January 1943. Launched on 5 September 1943, she entered service on 3 November 1943.

Her class ran to 612 ships. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 747 long tons surfaced and 846 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 495 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 12 March 1945 by mine. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm Flak M42 AA gun
  • 2 × 2 cm C/30 AA guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources