|
| History |
|---|
| Nazi Germany |
|---|
| Name | U-56 |
| Ordered | 17 June 1937 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Yard number | 255 |
| Laid down | 21 September 1937 |
| Launched | 3 September 1938 |
| Commissioned | 26 November 1938 |
| Decommissioned | 3 April 1945 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 3 May 1945 |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class & type | Type IIC coastal submarine |
| Displacement |
- 291 t (286 long tons) surfaced
- 341 t (336 long tons) submerged
|
| Length | |
| Beam |
- 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a)
- 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) pressure hull
|
| Height | 8.40 m (27 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 3.82 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power |
- 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
- 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
- 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
- 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
|
| Range |
- 1,900 nmi (3,500 km; 2,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
- 35–42 nmi (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
|
| Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Complement | 3 officers, 22 men |
| Armament | |
| Service record |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: |
M 22 134 |
| Commanders: |
- Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Wilhelm Zahn
- 26 November 1938 – 21 January 1940
- Oblt.z.S. Otto Harms
- 22 January – 13 October 1940
- Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Werner Pfeifer
- 14 October 1940 – 21 April 1941
- Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang Römer
- 22 April 1941 – 19 January 1942
- Oblt.z.S. Günther-Paul Grave
- 20 January – 14 November 1942
- Oblt.z.S. Hugo Deiring
- 15 November 1942 – 27 February 1944
- Oblt.z.S. Werner Sausmikat
- 28 February – 30 June 1944
- Lt.z.S. Heinrich Miede
- 1 July 1944 – 22 February 1945
- Lt.z.S. Walter Käding
- 9 January – 5 February 1945
- Oblt.z.S. Joachim Sauerbier
- 23 February - 3 April 1945
|
| Operations: |
- 12 patrols:
- 1st patrol:
- 25 August – 8 September 1939
- 2nd patrol:
- 12 – 19 September 1939
- 3rd patrol:
- 23 October – 13 November 1939
- 4th patrol:
- 27 November – 5 December 1939
- 5th patrol:
- 27 December 1939 – 11 January 1940
- 6th patrol:
- a. 27 January – 17 February 1940
- b. 4 – 5 March 1940
- 7th patrol:
- 14 – 20 March 1940
- 8th patrol:
- 4 – 26 April 1940
- 9th patrol:
- 21 May – 14 June 1940
- 10th patrol:
- 29 June – 21 July 1940
- 11th patrol:
- 25 July – 14 August 1940
- 12th patrol:
- 19 August – 15 September 1940
|
| Victories: |
- 3 merchant ships sunk
(8,860 GRT)
- 1 auxiliary warship sunk
(16,923 GRT)
- 1 merchant ship damaged
(3,829 GRT)
|
German submarine U-56 was a Type IIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that served in the Second World War. She was built by Deutsche Werke, Kiel as yard number 255. Ordered on 17 June 1937, she was laid down on 21 September, launched on 3 September 1938 and commissioned on 26 November under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Zahn.
U-56 was initially assigned to the 5th U-boat Flotilla during her training period, until 31 December 1939, when she was reassigned to the 1st U-boat Flotilla for operations. She carried out twelve war patrols, sinking three ships for a total 8,860 gross register tons (GRT) and one auxiliary warship of 16,923 GRT; she also damaged one vessel of 3,829 GRT.