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(Top) 1 Design 2 Service history 2.1 HMS Edinburgh 2.2 Wolfpacks 2.3 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 4.1 Notes 4.2 Citations 5 Bibliography 6 Further reading 7 External links

German submarine U-456

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History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-456
Ordered	16 January 1940
Builder	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number	287
Laid down	3 September 1940
Launched	21 June 1941
Commissioned	18 September 1941
Fate	Sunk after being depth charged on 12 May 1943 at position 46°39′N 26°54′W / 46.650°N 26.900°W / 46.650; -26.900byHMS Opportune and a RAF Liberator bomber of 86 Squadron, based in Northern Ireland.
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 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) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record^[1]
Part of:	6th U-boat Flotilla 28 September 1941 – 30 June 1942 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 July – 30 November 1942 1st U-boat Flotilla 1 December 1942 – 12 May 1943
Identification codes:	M 17 549
Commanders:	Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert 18 September 1941 – 12 May 1943
Operations:	11 patrols: 1st patrol: 31 January – 15 February 1942 2nd patrol: 24 February – 22 March 1942 3rd patrol: 29 March – 2 April 1942 4th patrol: 7 – 20 April 1942 5th patrol: 29 April – 4 May 1942 6th patrol: 7 – 12 May 1942 7th patrol: 25 June - 6 July 1942 8th patrol: 4 – 10 August 1942 9th patrol: a. 15 August – 19 September 1942 b. 21 – 27 September 1942 c. 23 November – 4 December 1942 10th patrol: 14 January – 26 February 1943 11th patrol: 24 April – 12 May 1943
Victories:	6 merchant ships sunk (31,528 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (6,421 GRT) 1 warship damaged (11,500 tons)

German submarine U-456 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 3 September 1940 by Deutsche WerkeinKiel as yard number 287, launched on 21 June 1941 and commissioned on 18 September 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Max-Martin Teichert (Knight's Cross).

Design

[edit]

Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-456 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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-456 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

Service history

[edit]

The boat's service began on 28 September 1941 with training as part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 11th flotilla on 1 July 1942 and then to the 1st flotilla on 1 December 1942.

In 11 patrols she sank six ships for a total of 31,528 gross register tons (GRT), plus two ships damaged.

HMS Edinburgh

[edit]

In the late afternoon of 30 April 1942, during the attack on the Arctic Convoy QP 11, two of her torpedoes struck and crippled the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Edinburgh. At the time Edinburgh was carrying many tons of gold bullion from the USSR destined for the UK.

Wolfpacks

[edit]

She took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:

Umbau (4–15 February 1942)
Umhang (10–16 March 1942)
Eiswolf (29–31 March 1942)
Robbenschlag (7–14 April 1942)
Blutrausch (15–19 April 1942)
Strauchritter (29 April – 3 May 1942)
Eisteufel (27 June – 5 July 1942)
Boreas (27–30 November 1942)
Landsknecht (19–28 January 1943)
Drossel (29 April – 12 May 1943)

Fate

[edit]

In the early morning light U-456 was caught on the surface by an RAF Coastal Command Liberator bomber of 86 Squadron operating out of Northern Ireland, as she circled ahead of convoy HX 237. U-456 dived at once, but not before the aircraft had launched the new American Fido acoustic homing torpedo at the submerged submarine. The aircraft, low on fuel, was unable to press home the attack. U-456 was badly damaged and forced to re-surface. On the following day she was depth charged and sunk on 12 May 1943 at position 46° 39' N 26° 54' W by HMS Opportune.

Summary of raiding history

[edit]

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 1]}	Fate^[3]
30 March 1942	Effingham	United States	6,421	Damaged
30 April 1942	HMS Edinburgh	Royal Navy	11,500	Damaged
5 July 1942	Honomu	United Kingdom	6,977	Sunk
22 August 1942	Chalka	Soviet Union	80	Sunk
2 February 1943	Jeremiah Van Rensselaer	United States	7,177	Sunk
3 February 1943	Inverilen	United Kingdom	9,456	Sunk
23 February 1943	Kyleclare	Ireland	700	Sunk
12 May 1943	Fort Concord	United Kingdom	7,138	Sunk

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

[edit]

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-456". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 April 2014.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-456". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 April 2014.

Bibliography

[edit]

Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. II. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

[edit]

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-456". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 December 2014.

v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in May 1943

Shipwrecks

1 May: Erinpura
2 May: Gneisenau, Turunmaa, U-465
4 May: U-109, U-439, U-659
5 May: Bristol City, Fingal, Hartwelson, U-638, Wentworth, USS West Madaket, West Maximus
6 May: FR 117, U-125, U-192, U-438, U-531, U-630
7 May: Adele, Hermes, U-447, U-663, L'Audacieux
8 May: Kagerō, Kuroshio, Oyashio
9 May: Aso Maru
11 May: Nailsea Meadow, U-528
12 May: I-31, U-89, U-186, U-456
13 May: U-753
14 May: AHS Centaur, U-235, U-236, U-237, U-640
15 May: Irish Oak, U-176, U-266
16 May: Enrico Tazzoli, U-182, U-463
17 May: U-128, U-646, U-657
18 May: Empire Eve
19 May: Général Bonaparte, U-273, U-953
20 May: U-258
21 May: U-303
22 May: U-569
23 May: Leonardo da Vinci, USS Niagara, U-752
25 May: U-414, U-467
26 May: U-436
27 May: Léopard
28 May: Angelo Bassini, U-304, U-755
30 May: HMS Untamed
31 May: U-440, U-563
Unknown date: Calypso, Piemonte, Ro-102, U-209, U-381

Other incidents

2 May: USS Harder
10 May: USS Macdonough, USS Sicard
14 May: I-177
17 May: USS S-33
19 May: La Vestale, HMS Wishart
22 May: USS Grayling
31 May: USS S-34

1942 1943 1944
April 1943 June 1943

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=German_submarine_U-456&oldid=1225572971" Categories: ●Submarines lost with all hands ●German Type VIIC submarines ●1941 ships ●U-boats commissioned in 1941 ●U-boats sunk in 1943 ●U-boats sunk by British warships ●World War II submarines of Germany ●World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean ●Ships built in Kiel ●Maritime incidents in May 1943 Hidden categories: ●Articles with short description ●Short description matches Wikidata ●Ship infoboxes without an image ●Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas ●CS1 German-language sources (de) ●Use dmy dates from December 2014 ●This page was last edited on 25 May 2024, at 09:47 (UTC). ●Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. ●Privacy policy ●About Wikipedia ●Disclaimers ●Contact Wikipedia ●Code of Conduct ●Developers ●Statistics ●Cookie statement ●Mobile view