| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-16 |
| Ordered | 2 February 1935 |
| Builder | Deutsche Werke,Kiel |
| Yard number | 251 |
| Laid down | 5 August 1935 |
| Launched | 28 April 1936 |
| Commissioned | 16 May 1936 |
| Fate | Sunk on 25 October 1939 in the English Channel near Dover. 28 dead[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type IIB coastal submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Complement | 3 officers, 22 men |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 13 014 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
German submarineU-16 was aType IIBU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine that served duringWorld War II. It waslaunched on 28 April 1936, under the command of Heinz Beduhn, with a crew of 23. The last of its four commanders wasKapitänleutnant Horst Wellner.
German Type IIB submarines were enlarged versions of the originalType IIs.U-16 had a displacement of 279 tonnes (275 long tons) when at the surface and 328 tonnes (323 long tons) while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 long tons (250 t), however.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), apressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 in), abeam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and adraught of 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in). The submarine was powered by twoMWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinderdiesel engines of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for cruising, twoSiemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36double-acting electric motors producing a total of 460 metric horsepower (340 kW; 450 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80–150 metres (260–490 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 35–42 nautical miles (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 3,800 nautical miles (7,000 km; 4,400 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).U-16 was fitted with three 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes at the bow, fivetorpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of twentyfive.[2]
From 2 September 1939, until 25 October 1939,U-16 took part in the laying ofmines in open water in and around theEnglish Channel, to hamper allied shipping. On 28 September 1939,U-16 sank theSwedish 3,378 GRTNyland. The 57 GRT FrenchSainte Claire was sunk by one of the mines laid byU-16 on 21 November 1939.
On 25 October 1939,U-16 was transiting theDover Strait when it was attacked byHMS Puffin andHMS Cayton Wyke. Trying to avoid the depth charges from both ships,U-16 ran aground on theGoodwin Sands, an area that was notorious for both sides.U-16 was lost with all hands; other U-Boats were subsequently obliged to take the significantly longer route north of Scotland to theWestern Approaches and the north Atlantic.[1]
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 September 1939 | Nyland |  Sweden | 3,378 | Sunk |
| 21 November 1939 | Ste. Claire |  French Navy | 57 | Sunk (mine) |
51°9′N1°28′E / 51.150°N 1.467°E /51.150; 1.467
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in October 1939 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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