U-176
Type | IXC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 23 Dec 1939 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 6 Feb 1941 | AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1016) | ||||||||
| Launched | 12 Sep 1941 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 15 Dec 1941 | Kptlt. Reiner Dierksen | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 3 patrols |
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| Successes | 11 ships sunk for a total of 53,307 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 15 May, 1943 north-east of Havana, in position 23.21N, 80.18W, by depth charges from the Cuban patrol boat CS 13. 53 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
An American Vought-Sikorsky OS2U-3 Kingfisher aircraft (VS-62/1) located the boat and dipped her wings marking the spot for the patrol boat which then came and dropped a 3-charge pattern resulting in 4 explosions on the submerged U-boat.
Wolfpack operations
U-176 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Steinbrinck (5 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1942)
Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 1 Sep 1942)
Attacks on this boat
25 Aug 1942
After a successful attack on convoy ONS-122, the surfaced boat sighted HMS Viscount and at 02.12 hours fired one stern torpedo which missed astern because it was a surface runner. The destroyer immediately attacked the crash-diving U-boat with five depth charges without damaging her. Turning for another attack, HMS Viscount spotted U-605 and left to hunt the other boat. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-176)
25 Aug 1942
At 06.13 hours, U-176 encountered HMS Viscount behind the convoy ONS-122 in thick fog. The destroyer was searching for another U-boat they had attacked earlier and investigated a radar contact by firing a star shell when spotting U-176 on the surface nearby and opened fire with the 20mm AA guns, but they could not be depressed enough. The U-boat crash-dived at a steep angle of more than 45° to 120 meters and was attacked with five depth charges that caused only minor damages. The destroyer lost the Asdic contact after the attack and sighted oil on the water when sweeping the area for 20 minutes before returning to the convoy. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-176)
17 Dec 1942
At 17.42 hours, the crash-diving boat was attacked by an unknown Catalina aircraft off Recife. The 3 bombs forced the boat to the surface where it was strafed before diving again. Damages to the batteries limited the ability to dive, so the damaged boat had to withdraw out to sea for repairs that took two days. (Sources: Ritschel)
3 recorded attacks on this boat.
Annoucements related to this boat
U-176 found? (11 Jan 2002)Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-176 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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