History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-856 |
Ordered: | 5 June 1941 |
Builder: | DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen |
Yard number: | 1062 |
Laid down: | 31 October 1942 |
Launched: | 11 May 1943 |
Commissioned: | 19 August 1943 |
Fate: | scuttled in position 40°18′N 62°22′W / 40.300°N 62.367°WCoordinates: 40°18′N 62°22′W / 40.300°N 62.367°W on 7 April 1944 after receiving heavy damage from US warships |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type IXC/40 submarine |
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Length: |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 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 | |
Identification codes: | M 54 791 |
Commanders: | Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Wittenberg |
Operations: | 1 patrol |
German submarine U-856 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-856 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 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 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 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).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-856 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.