 U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical toU-955. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-955 |
| Ordered | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 155 |
| Laid down | 23 February 1942 |
| Launched | 14 November 1942 |
| Commissioned | 31 December 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 7 June 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 |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 49 601 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-955 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine duringWorld War II.
She was ordered on 10 April 1941, and waslaid down on 23 February 1942 atBlohm & Voss,Hamburg, as yard number 155. She waslaunched on 14 November 1942 andcommissioned under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Hans-Heinrich Baden on 31 December 1942.[2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-955 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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, twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/cdouble-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).[3]
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).[3] 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-955 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes or 26 TMAmines, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between 44 — 52 men.[3]
.JPG)
On 30 April 1944,U-955 landed Ernst Fresenius, Sigurður Juliusson and Hjalti Björnsson,espionage agents, onIceland.[2]
U-955 was located byradar on 5 May 1944, from aBritishB-24 Liberator, FK226, of86 Squadron/G RAF piloted byW/O M.G. Moseley and spotted in the moonlight. After several attempts to get the Liberator into a favourable up-moon attack run contact withU-955 was lost. She had apparently made acrash dive after firing at B-24, which she later claimed at shooting down, even though the B-24 was not hit in the encounter.[2]
On 7 June 1944,U-955 was sunk by depth charges, north ofCape Ortegal, Spain in theBay of Biscay, from a BritishSunderland of201 Squadron/S RAF. Her crew of 50 were all lost.[2]
The wreck is located at45°13′N08°30′W / 45.217°N 8.500°W /45.217; -8.500.[2]
