German submarine U-516

U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-516
Ordered:	14 February 1940
Builder:	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Laid down:	12 May 1941
Launched:	16 December 1941
Commissioned:	21 February 1942
Fate:	Surrendered, May 1945 at Loch Eriboll in Scotland; transferred to Lisahally in Northern Ireland. Sunk, January 1946
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type IXC submarine
Displacement:	1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length:	76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height:	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power:	4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels) 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed:	18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range:	13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	230 m (750 ft)
Complement:	4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament:	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) deck gun (180 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA gun 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 10 March 1942 – 31 August 1942 10th U-boat Flotilla 1 – 30 September 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	K.Kapt. Gehard Wiebe 10 March 1942 – 23 June 1943 Hans Pauckstadt 11–27 May 1942 Kptlt. Herbert Kuppisch 24–30 June 1943 Kptlt. Hans-Rutger Tillessen 1 July – December 1944 Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Petran December 1944 – 14 May 1945
Operations:	1st patrol: 15 August – 14 November 1942 2nd patrol: 23 December 1942 – 5 May 1943 3rd patrol: 8 July – 23 August 1943 4th patrol: 4 October 1943 – 26 February 1944 5th patrol: 7 May – 4 October 1944 6th patrol: 6 April – 14 May 1945
Victories:	16 merchant ships sunk, total 89,385 GRT 1 merchant ship damaged, 9,867 GRT

German submarine U-516 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft (yard) in Hamburg as yard number 312 on 12 May 1941, launched on 16 December 1941 and commissioned on 21 February 1942 with Korvettenkapitän Gerhard Wiebe in command.

U-516 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 10 March 1941. She was re-assigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 September 1942, then the 33rd flotilla on 1 October 1944.

She carried out six patrols, sank 16 ships and damaged one more. She surrendered in May 1945 at Loch Eriboll in Scotland and was transferred to Lisahally in Northern Ireland for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk in January 1946.

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-516 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).