German submarine U-956 facts for kids
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The German submarine U-956 was a special kind of submarine called a Type VIIC U-boat. It was built for Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II.
This U-boat was started on 20 February 1942 at a shipyard called Blohm & Voss in Hamburg. It was launched into the water on 14 November 1942. U-956 officially joined the navy on 6 January 1943. Its first commander was Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Dieter Mohs.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany |
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| Name | U-956 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 156 |
| 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 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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About the U-956 Design
U-956 was a Type VIIC submarine. These were a common type of U-boat used by Germany. When it was on the surface, it weighed about 769 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed about 871 tonnes.
Size and Speed
The submarine was about 67.10 meters (220 feet) long. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was about 50.50 meters (165 feet) long. It could travel quite fast on the surface, reaching speeds of about 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h). Underwater, it was slower, moving at about 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h).
How it Moved
U-956 had two powerful diesel engines for moving on the surface. When it went underwater, it switched to two electric motors. It could dive to a depth of about 230 meters (750 feet). Its strongest point, called the crush depth, was between 250 and 295 meters (820 and 968 feet).
Weapons and Crew
The U-boat was armed with five torpedo tubes. Four were at the front and one was at the back. It carried 14 torpedoes, or it could carry 26 mines instead. It also had a large 8.8 cm deck gun and a twin 2 cm anti-aircraft gun to defend against planes. The crew usually had between 44 and 60 sailors.
Service History
U-956 started its journey with training. From January to June 1943, it was part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. A flotilla is like a group of ships that work together.
After training, it became part of the 1st U-boat Flotilla in July 1943. Later, it joined the 11th U-boat Flotilla and then the 13th U-boat Flotilla. During its time in service, U-956 went on 13 patrols. These patrols were missions to find and attack enemy ships.
What Happened to U-956
U-956 survived the war until the very end. It surrendered on 13 May 1945 in a place called Loch Eriboll in Scotland. After the war, many German U-boats were sunk by the Allies so they couldn't be used again. This was part of something called Operation Deadlight. U-956 was moved to Northern Ireland and then sunk by naval gunfire on 17 December 1945.
Ships Attacked by U-956
U-956 attacked and damaged or sank two ships during its patrols.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 December 1944 | Tbilisi |  Soviet Union |
7,176 | Total loss |
| 16 January 1945 | Dejatelnyj |  Soviet Navy |
1,190 | Sunk |
