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

15 Dec, 1941 - 15 May, 1943

KrvKpt. Reiner Dierksen

Career

3 patrols

15 Dec, 1941 - 31 Jul, 1942 4. Flottille (training)
1 Aug, 1942 - 15 May, 1943 10. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

10 ships sunk for a total of 45.850 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 7.457 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).

See the 11 ships hit by U-176 - View the 3 war patrols

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:
Lachs (15 Aug, 1942 - 27 Sep, 1942)

Attacks on this boat

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)

1 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.