Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine 1940

German submarine U-76 (1940)

Type VIIB U-boat

Displacement
741 long tons (753 t)
Length
66.5 m (218.2 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.9 knots (33.2 km/h, 20.6 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-769 December 1940 — 5 April 1941117 days of the war
Type VIIB U-boat Particulars
Name
U-76
Pennant / hull number
1940
Builder
Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Ordered
2 June 1938
Laid down
28 December 1939
Launched
3 October 1940
Commissioned
9 December 1940
Fate
Sunk, 5 April 1941 (1941)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
741 long tons (753 t)
Displacement, submerged
843 long tons (857 t)
Length
66.5 m (218.2 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.9 knots (33.2 km/h, 20.6 mph)
Range
8,700 nmi (16,112 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-76 was a submarine of the Type VIIB U-boat built for the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1940. Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack laid her keel on 28 December 1939. Launched on 3 October 1940, she entered service on 9 December 1940.

24 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 741 long tons surfaced and 843 long tons submerged. She measured 66.5 m (218 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.9 knots.

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

She was in commission for 117 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 5 April 1941, at 58°35′N 20°20′W. 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 or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun

Sister ships

Sources