Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-856

Type IXC/40 submarine

Displacement
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft)
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Speed
19 knots (35.2 km/h, 21.9 mph)
Complement
48
Main gun
37 mm (1.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-85619 August 1943 — 7 April 1944232 days of the war
Type IXC/40 submarine Particulars
Name
U-856
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
31 October 1942
Launched
11 May 1943
Commissioned
19 August 1943
Fate
Scuttled in position 40 on 7 April 1944 after receiving heavy damage from US warships (1944)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,237 long tons (1,257 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft) OA
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Draught
4.67 m (15.3 ft)
Speed
19 knots (35.2 km/h, 21.9 mph)
Range
13,850 nmi (25,650 km)
Complement
48
Main gun
37 mm (1.5 in)

U-856 was a Type IXC/40 submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen on 31 October 1942. She entered service on 19 August 1943, having been launched on 11 May 1943.

Her class ran to 142 ships. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,126 long tons surfaced and 1,237 long tons submerged. She measured 76.8 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 6.9 m (23 ft). Her designed speed was 19 knots, and she carried a complement of 48.

Her main battery was one 37 mm (1.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 232 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 7 April 1944, at 40°18′N 62°22′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
  • 4400 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
  • 22 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 3.7 cm SK C/30
  • 1 × 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun

Sister ships

117 more in the class

Sources