| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-356 |
| Ordered | 26 October 1939 |
| Builder | Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft,Flensburg |
| Yard number | 475[1] |
| Laid down | 4 May 1940 |
| Launched | 16 September 1941 |
| Commissioned | 20 December 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk, 27 December 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[2][3] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 47 956 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | |
German submarineU-356 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II. The submarine waslaid down in May 1940 at theFlensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard atFlensburg,launched on 16 September 1941, andcommissioned on 20 December 1941.[4]

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-356 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[5] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoAEG GU 460/8-276double-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).[5]
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).[5] 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-356 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[5]
U-356 was ordered by theKriegsmarine on 26 October 1939. She waslaid down about six months later at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg, on 4 May 1940. The next year,U-356 waslaunched on 16 September 1941.[6] She was formallycommissioned on 20 December 1941.
U-356 was attacked byHMCS St. Laurent. Commander at this date was LCdr Guy Stanley Windeyer, DSC RCN - 14 Nov 1942 – 19 Jan 1943,HMCS Chilliwack,HMCS Battleford andHMCS Napanee north of theAzores at45°30′N25°40′W / 45.500°N 25.667°W /45.500; -25.667 on 27 December 1942 and sunk bydepth charges. All 46 crew members died in the event.[6]Source:For Posterity's Sake, aRoyal Canadian Navy Historical Project
U-356 took part in sixwolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Convoy | Fate[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 December 1942 | Empire Union | 5,952 | ONS 154 | Sunk | |
| 27 December 1942 | Melrose Abbey | 2,473 | ONS 154 | Sunk | |
| 27 December 1942 | Soekaboemi | 7,051 | ONS 154 | Damaged | |
| 27 December 1942 | King Edward | 5,224 | ONS 154 | Sunk | |
| Total: | 20,700 | ||||