German submarine U-1276 explained

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

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1276 had a displacement of 759t when at the surface and 860t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.1m (220.1feet), a pressure hull length of 50.5m (165.7feet), a beam of 6.2m (20.3feet), a height of 9.6m (31.5feet), and a draught of 4.74m (15.55feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-1276 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7cm (01.5inches) Flak M42 and two 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

At 11:45 on 20 February 1945, U-1276 sank, (Lt. Cdr. R.A. Howell, RNVR in command), a escorting convoy HX 337. Vervain sank after 20 minutes about south-east of Dungarvan, Ireland. The commander, three officers and 56 ratings were lost. Three officers and 31 ratings were rescued. (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 51.8°N -14°W. 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 south of Youghal. The submarine is lying in 75m (246feet) of water and largely intact, albeit visibly damaged by the depth charges that sank her.

See also

References

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External links

Notes and References

  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  2. Web site: Ships hit by U-1276 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 29 December 2014.