German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-960 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder superchargeddiesel 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-960 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 28 January 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 9,656 gross register tons (GRT), plus one auxiliary warship of 611 GRT.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-960". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
Bibliography
Alden, John D. (2004). "Question 32/03: Loss of U-616 and U-960". Warship International. XLI (4): 333–335. ISSN 0043-0374.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat Commanders of World War II: A Biographical Dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Maryland: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-960". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 960". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 29 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, march, 1942, blohm, voss, hamburg, yard, number, launched, december, 1942, commissioned, january, 1943, under, oberleutnant, günther, heinrich, history. German submarine U 960 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 20 March 1942 by Blohm amp Voss Hamburg as yard number 160 launched on 3 December 1942 and commissioned on 28 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Gunther Heinrich HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 960Ordered5 June 1941BuilderBlohm amp Voss HamburgYard number160Laid down20 March 1942Launched3 December 1942Commissioned28 January 1943FateSunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 37 20 N 01 35 E 37 333 N 1 583 E 37 333 1 583 Coordinates 37 20 N 01 35 E 37 333 N 1 583 E 37 333 1 583 by depth charges from USS Niblack USS Ludlow plus Wellington and Ventura aircraft General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullDraught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Armament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunService record 1 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 28 January 31 July 1943 3rd U boat Flotilla 1 August 1943 19 May 1944Commanders Oblt z S Gunther Heinrich 28 January 1943 19 May 1944Operations 5 patrols 1st patrol 18 August 1 September 1943 2nd patrol a 14 September 10 October 1943 b 14 16 October 1943 3rd patrol a 4 December 1943 3 February 1944 b 16 18 March 1944 4th patrol 19 27 March 1944 5th patrol 27 April 19 May 1944Victories 2 merchant ships sunk 9 656 GRT 1 auxiliary warship sunk 611 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 2 2 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 960 had a displacement of 769 tonnes 757 long tons when at the surface and 871 tonnes 857 long tons while submerged 2 She had a total length of 67 10 m 220 ft 2 in a pressure hull length of 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in a beam of 6 20 m 20 ft 4 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 74 m 15 ft 7 in The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four stroke six cylinder 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 Brown Boveri amp Cie GG UB 720 8 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 When submerged the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 8 500 nautical miles 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 960 was fitted with five 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and one at the stern fourteen torpedoes one 8 8 cm 3 46 in SK C 35 naval gun 220 rounds and one twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 2 Service history EditThe boat s career began with training at 5th U boat Flotilla on 28 January 1943 followed by active service on 1 August 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service In five patrols she sank two merchant ships for a total of 9 656 gross register tons GRT plus one auxiliary warship of 611 GRT Wolfpacks Edit U 960 took part in five wolfpacks namely Wiking 20 September 3 October 1943 Coronel 1 15 17 December 1943 Amrum 18 23 December 1943 Rugen 4 23 28 December 1943 Rugen 3 28 31 December 1943 Fate Edit U 960 was sunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean NW of Algiers in position 37 20 N 01 35 E 37 333 N 1 583 E 37 333 1 583 by depth charges from USS Niblack USS Ludlow plus Wellington and Ventura aircraft Summary of raiding history EditDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 3 30 September 1943 Arkhangel sk Soviet Union 2 480 Sunk1 October 1943 T 896 No 42 Soviet Navy 611 Sunk16 January 1944 Sumner I Kimball United States 7 176 SunkSee also EditMediterranean U boat Campaign World War II References EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 960 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 23 August 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 960 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 23 August 2014 Bibliography EditAlden John D 2004 Question 32 03 Loss of U 616 and U 960 Warship International XLI 4 333 335 ISSN 0043 0374 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 German U boat Commanders of World War II A Biographical Dictionary Translated by Brooks Geoffrey London Annapolis Maryland Greenhill Books Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 186 6 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 Der U Boot Krieg in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels German Warships 1815 1945 Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Sharpe Peter 1998 U Boat Fact File Great Britain Midland Publishing ISBN 1 85780 072 9 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 960 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 960 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 29 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 960 amp oldid 1082106827, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
