German submarine U-356 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down in May 1940 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg, launched on 16 September 1941, and commissioned on 20 December 1941.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-356 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 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-356 was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
U-356 was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 26 October 1939. She was laid down about six months later at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg, on 4 May 1940. The next year, U-356 was launched on 16 September 1941. She was formally commissioned on 20 December 1941.
Loss U-356 was attacked by . Commander at this date was LCdr Guy Stanley Windeyer, DSC RCN - 14 Nov 1942 – 19 Jan 1943, , and north of the Azores at on 27 December 1942 and sunk by depth charges. All 46 crew members died in the event. Source: For Posterity's Sake, a Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
Wolfpacks U-356 took part in six wolfpacks, namely: Pfeil (12 – 22 September 1942) Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942) Tiger (26 – 30 September 1942) Wotan (5 – 19 October 1942) Raufbold (11 – 22 December 1942) Spitz (22 – 27 December 1942)
Summary of Raiding History DateShip NameNationalityTonnage(GRT)ConvoyFate27 December 1942Empire Union5,952ONS 154Sunk 27 December 1942Melrose Abbey2,473ONS 154Sunk27 December 1942Soekaboemi7,051ONS 154Damaged27 December 1942King Edward5,224ONS 154SunkTotal:20,700
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