Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-956

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 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-9566 January 1943 — 13 May 1945858 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-956
Builder
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Ordered
10 April 1941
Laid down
20 February 1942
Launched
14 November 1942
Commissioned
6 January 1943
Fate
Surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 17 December 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 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-956 was a Type VIIC submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg on 20 February 1942. She entered service on 6 January 1943, having been launched on 14 November 1942.

612 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 757 long tons surfaced and 857 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 858 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 13 May 1945, at 55°50′N 10°05′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 (4 bow, 1 stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources