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German submarine U-56 (1938)

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-56
Ordered: 17 June 1937
Builder: Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number: 255
Laid down: 21 September 1937
Launched: 3 September 1938
Commissioned: 26 November 1938
Decommissioned: 3 April 1945
Fate: Scuttled on 3 May 1945
Status: Damaged by US aircraft 3 April 1945
General characteristics
Class and type: IIC
Type: Coastal submarine
Displacement:
  • 291 t (286 long tons) surfaced
  • 341 t (336 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a)
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height: 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught: 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in)
Installed power:
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
  • 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Range:
  • 1,900 nmi (3,500 km; 2,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 35–42 nmi (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 80 m (260 ft)
Complement: 3 officers, 22 men
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Wilhelm Zahn
  • 26 November 1938 – 21 January 1940
  • Oblt.z.S. Otto Harms
  • 22 January – 13 October 1940
  • Kptlt. Werner Pfeifer
  • 14 October 1940 – 21 April 1941*Kptlt. Wolfgang Römer
  • 22 April 1941 – 19 January 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther-Paul Grave
  • 20 January – 14 November 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Hugo Deiring
  • 15 November 1942 – 27 February 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Werner Sausmikat
  • 28 February – 30 June 1944
  • Lt.z.S. Heinrich Miede
  • 1 July 1944 – 22 February 1945
  • Lt.z.S. Walter Käding
  • 9 January – 5 February 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Joachim Sauerbier
  • 23 February - April 1945
Operations:
  • Twelve:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 August – 8 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 12–19 September 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 23 October – 13 November 1939
  • 4th patrol:
  • 27 November – 5 December 1939
  • 5th patrol:
  • 27 December 1939 – 11 January 1940
  • 6th patrol:
  • 27 January – 17 February 1940
  • 7th patrol:
  • 14 – 20 March 1940
  • 8th patrol:
  • 4 – 26 April 1940
  • 9th patrol:
  • 21 May – 14 June 1940
  • 10th patrol:
  • 29 June – 21 July 1940
  • 11th patrol:
  • 25 July – 14 August 1940
  • 12th patrol:
  • 19 August – 15 September 1940
Victories:
  • Three ships sunk, total 8,860 GRT;
  • one auxiliary warship sunk 16,923 GRT;
  • one ship damaged, 3,829 GRT

German submarine U-56 was a Type IIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that served in the Second World War. She was built by Deutsche Werke, Kiel as yard number 255. Ordered on 17 June 1937, she was laid down on 21 September, launched on 3 September 1938 and commissioned on 26 November under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Zahn.

U-56 was initially assigned to the 5th U-boat Flotilla during her training period, until 31 December 1939, when she was re-assigned to the 1st U-boat Flotilla for operations. She carried out twelve war patrols, sinking three ships for a total 8,860 gross register tons (GRT) and one auxiliary warship of 16,923 GRT; she also damaged one vessel of 3,829 GRT.

German Type IIC submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-56 had a displacement of 291 tonnes (286 long tons) when at the surface and 341 tonnes (336 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however. The U-boat had a total length of 43.90 m (144 ft 0 in), a pressure hull length of 29.60 m (97 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in). The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).


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