German submarine U-956

German submarine U-956 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 20 February 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 1588, launched on 14 November 1942 and commissioned on 6 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Stoelker.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-956 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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-956 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 one twin  C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th Flotilla on 6 January 1943, followed by active service on 1 July 1943 as part of the 1st Flotilla.

Fate
U-956 surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll. She was then transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 29 May 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight and sunk by naval gunfire on 17 December 1945.

Summary of raiding history

References

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Category:German Type VIIC submarines
Category:1944 ships
Category:U-boats commissioned in 1944
Category:U-boats sunk in 1945
Category:World War II submarines of Germany
Category:Ships built in Danzig
Category:Operation Deadlight
Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
Category:Maritime incidents in December 1945