List of all U-boats

U-196

Type

IXD2

 
Ordered4 Nov 1940
Laid down10 Jun 1941 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1042)
Launched24 Apr 1942
Commissioned11 Sep 1942Kptlt. Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat (Knights Cross)
Commanders
11 Sep 1942 - 21 Sep 1944  KrvKpt. Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat (Knights Cross)
1 Oct 1944 - 1 Dec 1944  Oblt. Werner Striegler
Career
3 patrols
11 Sep 1942-31 Mar 1943  4. Flottille (training)
1 Apr 1943-30 Sep 1944  12. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944-1 Dec 1944  33. Flottille (active service)
Successes3 ships sunk, total tonnage 17,739 GRT
Fate

Missing since 1 Dec 1944 near the Sunda Straits south of Java, exact position unknown, possibly because of a diving accident. 65 dead (all hands lost).

See the 3 ships hit by U-196 - View the 3 war patrols

Attacks on this boat and other events

25 May 1943
U-196 attempted to fire two torpedoes at a target in a convoy off South Africa, but only one launched, leaving the other lodged in its tube armed and ready to detonate. The potentially catastrophic hazard was removed by diving the boat at a steep angle until it slid out of the tube. During all this, convoy escorts dropped four depth charges on the boat, but without causing any damage. Date is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 298)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

23 Oct 1943. U-196 completed the longest patrol by any submarine in WWII, 225 days from 13 March to 23 Oct, 1943, under the command of Krvkpt. Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-196 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Hunter

Media links


U-Boat Adventures

Wiggins, Melanie


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Related page:
U-boats Missing in Action.



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