| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-736 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Schichau-Werke,Danzig |
| Yard number | 1533 |
| Laid down | 29 November 1941 |
| Launched | 31 October 1942 |
| Commissioned | 16 January 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk on 6 August 1944 |
| 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 | |
| Part of |
|
| Identification codes | M 49 866 |
| Commanders |
|
| Operations |
|
| Victories | None |
German submarineU-736 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine built for service duringWorld War II. Her keel waslaid down on 29 November 1941 bySchichau-Werke ofDanzig. She wascommissioned on 16 January 1943 withOberleutnant zur See Reinhard Reff in command.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-736 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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 460/8–27double-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).[1]
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).[1] 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-736 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 two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
U-736 was severely damaged on 24 May 1944 by aConsolidated Liberator fromNo. 224 Squadron RAF, aircraft letter 'C', and then shot down a BritishVickers Wellington aircraft.
U-736 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in theBay of Biscay west ofSt. Nazaire, in position47°19′N4°16′W / 47.317°N 4.267°W /47.317; -4.267, bySquid depth charges fromHMS Loch Killin; there were 19 survivors and 28 dead.
The U-boat captain,Oberleutnant zur See Reinhard Reff, had fired a torpedo at HMSLoch Killin and the periscope was spotted by a port lookout. Action stations rang out through the ship and depth charges shot out in record time. The torpedo was destroyed by the explosion, which was so violent that it forced the damagedU-736 to surface under the stern of the frigate. For a few minutes both vessels were locked together and the survivors of the crew scrambled onto the quarterdeck ofLoch Killin to the bewilderment of the frigate's crew. ThenU-736 slipped away taking the other crew members to the bottom. The prisoners were disembarked to another warship returning to England andLoch Killin continued on patrol.
