German submarine U-516 facts for kids
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The German submarine U-516 was a special type of U-boat (submarine) used by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was a powerful warship designed to travel underwater.
U-516 was built in Hamburg, Germany. Its construction started on 12 May 1941. It was launched into the water on 16 December 1941 and officially joined the German navy on 21 February 1942. Its first commander was Gerhard Wiebe.
This U-boat was part of different groups of submarines, called flotillas. It started with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training. Later, it joined the 10th U-boat Flotilla and then the 33rd U-boat Flotilla for its missions.
U-516 went on six long journeys, called patrols. During these patrols, it successfully sank 16 enemy ships and damaged one more. When the war ended, U-516 gave up on 14 May 1945 in Scotland. It was later moved to Northern Ireland and was sunk on 2 January 1946 as part of "Operation Deadlight," where many captured U-boats were destroyed.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-516 |
| Ordered | 14 February 1940 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 312 |
| Laid down | 12 May 1941 |
| Launched | 16 December 1941 |
| Commissioned | 21 February 1942 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 14 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll in Scotland; transferred to Lisahally in Northern Ireland. Sunk on 2 January 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IXC submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: |
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What Was U-516 Like?
Submarine Design and Size
U-516 was a Type IXC submarine. These were a bit bigger than earlier models. When it was on the surface of the water, U-516 weighed about 1,120 tons. When it was fully underwater, it weighed about 1,232 tons.
The submarine was about 76.76 meters (251 feet) long overall. Its main strong body, called the pressure hull, was about 58.75 meters (192 feet) long. It was about 6.76 meters (22 feet) wide and 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall. The part of the submarine that sat under the water, its draught, was about 4.70 meters (15 feet).
How U-516 Moved
The U-516 had two types of engines. For moving on the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it enough power to travel at a top speed of 18.3 knots (about 33.9 kilometers per hour or 21.1 miles per hour). When it was underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at a top speed of 7.3 knots (about 13.5 kilometers per hour or 8.4 miles per hour).
The submarine could travel a very long distance on the surface, about 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 kilometers) at a slower speed. Underwater, it could travel about 63 nautical miles (117 kilometers) at a slower speed before needing to surface. U-516 could dive deep, up to 230 meters (750 feet) below the surface.
Weapons and Crew
U-516 was well-armed for its missions. It had six torpedo tubes, which are like underwater cannons that fire torpedoes. Four of these tubes were at the front (bow), and two were at the back (stern). It carried 22 torpedoes in total.
Besides torpedoes, it also had a large deck gun on its top, used for attacking ships on the surface. It carried 180 rounds for this gun. For defense against airplanes, it had two anti-aircraft guns: a 3.7 cm gun and a twin 2 cm gun. The submarine needed a crew of 48 people to operate it, including officers and sailors.
U-516's Journeys
First Mission
U-516's first real mission started on 15 August 1942 from Kristiansand, Norway. It sailed into the Atlantic Ocean, passing between Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
On 27 August, it tried to attack a ship called Port Jackson near Ireland. The U-boat fired torpedoes that missed. Then, it used its deck gun, hitting the ship 14 times and starting a small fire. However, the Port Jackson fought back, and U-516 had to stop its attack. The Port Jackson managed to escape.
Later, the U-boat moved to the waters near South America. Here, it had more success sinking ships. One ship needed seven torpedoes to be sunk! The patrol ended when U-516 arrived in Lorient, France, on 14 November 1942.
Second and Third Missions
For its second mission, U-516 traveled all the way to South Africa. It sank three ships near East London and another off the coast of Namibia.
Its third mission also took it south. This time, it sailed between South America and the Cape Verde Islands.
Fourth Mission
The fourth mission took U-516 to the Caribbean Sea. One of the ships it sank was a small Colombian sailing ship named Ruby on 18 November 1943, using its deck gun.
Another ship it attacked was the Elizabeth Kellog. This ship was hit by a torpedo and abandoned by its crew. But it kept moving because its engines were still running. The back part of the ship exploded, and it burned for 12 hours before sinking. During this patrol, on 19 December 1943, an unknown aircraft damaged U-516.
Fifth Mission
On its fifth mission, U-516 sank the Esso Harrisburg near Aruba in the Caribbean. After this, it made its way back to Germany, sailing through the Denmark Strait between Greenland and Iceland. It reached the German harbor of Flensburg on 4 October 1944.
Final Mission and Surrender
U-516 started its last mission on 5 April 1945 from Kristiansand, Norway. The war was nearing its end. On 14 May 1945, U-516 surrendered in Loch Eriboll, Scotland. It was then moved to Lisahally in Northern Ireland. As part of "Operation Deadlight," where many captured German submarines were destroyed, U-516 was sunk on 2 January 1946. Its final resting place is at coordinates 56°06′N 09°00′W.
Ships Attacked by U-516
Here is a list of the ships U-516 attacked during its patrols:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 August 1942 | Port Jackson |  United Kingdom |
9,687 | Damaged |
| 31 August 1942 | Jack Carnes |  United States |
10,907 | Sunk |
| 19 September 1942 | Wichita | United States |
6,174 | Sunk |
| 28 September 1942 | Antonico |  Brazil |
1,223 | Sunk |
| 30 September 1942 | Alipore | United Kingdom |
5,273 | Sunk |
| 24 October 1942 | Holmpark | United Kingdom |
5,780 | Sunk |
| 11 February 1943 | Helmspey | United Kingdom |
4,764 | Sunk |
| 17 February 1943 | Deer Lodge | United States |
6,187 | Sunk |
| 27 February 1943 | Colombia |  Netherlands |
10,782 | Sunk |
| 20 March 1943 | Nortun |  Panama |
3,663 | Sunk |
| 13 November 1943 | Pompoon | Panama |
1,082 | Sunk |
| 18 November 1943 | Ruby |  Colombia |
39 | Sunk |
| 23 November 1943 | Elizabeth Kellog | United States |
5,189 | Sunk |
| 24 November 1943 | Melville E. Stone | United States |
7,176 | Sunk |
| 8 December 1943 | Colombia | Panama |
1,064 | Sunk |
| 16 December 1943 | McDowell | United States |
10,195 | Sunk |
| 7 July 1944 | Esso Harrisburg | United States |
9,887 | Sunk |
