German submarine U-1276

Coordinates: 51°48′N 07°07′W / 51.800°N 7.117°W / 51.800; -7.117
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-1276
Ordered13 June 1942
BuilderBremer Vulkan of Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number71
Laid down13 July 1943
Launched25 February 1944
Commissioned6 April 1944
FateSunk on 20 February 1945
General characteristics
Class and type
Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement
Length
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)
    o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)
    pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement44-52 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 07 089
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 28 January – 20 February 1945
Victories: 1 warship sunk
(925 tons)

German submarine U-1276 was a

Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service during World War II. She was laid down at Bremer Vulkan of Bremen-Vegesack on 13 July 1943. She was commissioned 6 April 1944 with Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Wendt in command. U-1276 was equipped with a submarine snorkel
(underwater-breathing apparatus) when she sailed on her last cruise.

Design

supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).

2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

At 11:45 on 20 February 1945, U-1276 sank HMS Vervain, (Lt. Cdr. R.A. Howell, RNVR in command), a Flower-class corvette escorting convoy HX 337. Vervain sank after 20 minutes about 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) south-east of Dungarvan, Ireland. The commander, three officers and 56 ratings were lost. Three officers and 31 ratings were rescued. HMS Amethyst (Lt. Cdr. N. Scott-Elliot, DSC, RN in command), which was part of the same convoy, then sank U-1276 by depth charges, off Waterford, Ireland at position 51°48′N 07°07′W / 51.800°N 7.117°W / 51.800; -7.117. All hands aboard the U-boat (49) were lost.

Post war

In 2006, a group of divers from Ardmore Diving discovered the wreck site of U-1276 some 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) south of Youghal. The submarine is lying in 75 metres (41 fathoms) of water and largely intact, albeit visibly damaged by the depth charges that sank her.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
20 February 1945 HMS Vervain  Royal Navy 925 Sunk

See also

References

Notes

  1. gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement
    .

Citations

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Karl-Heinz Wendt". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-1276". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

Bibliography

External links