German submarine U-56 (1938)

U-56 was a Type IIC coastal submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1938. Deutsche Werke, Kiel laid her keel on 21 September 1937. Launched on 3 September 1938, she entered service on 26 November 1938.

50 ships of the class were built. The class followed the CV 707-type submarine and was succeeded by the Planned:.

The boat displaced 286 long tons surfaced and 336 long tons submerged. She measured 43.9 m (144 ft) long with a beam of 4.1 m (13 ft). Her designed speed was 12 knots, and she carried a complement of 25.

Her main battery was one 20 mm (0.8 in) guns.

She was in commission for 2,041 days of the Second World War. She was decommissioned on 3 April 1945.

She was scuttled on 3 May 1945, at 54°19′N 10°10′E. The wreck survives.

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