German submarine U-516

U-516 surrenders to HMS Cavendish (R15) on 10 May 1945
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-516
Ordered14 February 1940
BuilderDeutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number312
Laid down12 May 1941
Launched16 December 1941
Commissioned21 February 1942
FateSurrendered on 14 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll in Scotland; transferred to Lisahally in Northern Ireland. Sunk on 2 January 1946
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeType IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 960
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Gehard Wiebe
  • 10 March 1942 – 23 June 1943
  • K.Kapt. Hans Pauckstadt
  • 11 – 27 May 1942
  • Kptlt. Herbert Kuppisch
  • 24 – 30 June 1943
  • Kptlt. Hans-Rutger Tillessen
  • 1 July – December 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Friedrich Petran
  • December 1944 – 14 May 1945
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 12 – 13 August 1942
  • b. 15 August – 14 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 23 December 1942 – 4 May 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 8 July – 23 August 1943
  • b. 30 September – 1 October 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 4 October 1943 – 26 February 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 7 May – 4 October 1944
  • b. 24 – 27 March 1945
  • c. 1 – 3 April 1945
  • 6th patrol:
  • 5 April – 14 May 1945
Victories:
  • 16 merchant ships sunk
    (89,385 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (9,687 GRT)

German submarine U-516 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft (yard) in Hamburg as yard number 312 on 12 May 1941, launched on 16 December 1941 and commissioned on 21 February 1942 with Korvettenkapitän Gerhard Wiebe in command.

U-516 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 10 March 1942. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 September 1942, then the 33rd flotilla on 1 October 1944.

She carried out six patrols, sank 16 ships and damaged one more. She surrendered on 14 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll in Scotland and was transferred to Lisahally in Northern Ireland for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk on 2 January 1946.

  1. ^ Gröner 1985, pp. 105–107.