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U-656

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered9 Oct, 1939
Laid down 4 Sep, 1940 Howaldtswerke, Hamburg (werk 805)
Launched8 Jul, 1941
Commissioned17 Sep, 1941Kptlt. Ernst Kröning
Commanders
17 Sep, 1941 - 1 Mar, 1942  Kptlt. Ernst Kröning
Career2 patrols 17 Sep, 1941 - 31 Dec, 1941  5. Flottille (training)
1 Jan, 1942 - 1 Mar, 1942  1. Flottille (front boat)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk 1 March, 1942 in the North Atlantic south of Cape Race, in position 46.15N, 53.15W, by depth charges from an American Hudson aircraft (VP 82). 45 dead (all hands lost).

View the 2 war patrols

The Hudson PBO-1 aircraft was from a US Navy patrol squadron (VP-82) that was flying support for convoy ON.72. The Hudson PBO-1 was one of 20 Lend-Lease Hudson IIIA's used by the USN to equip one squadron.

These aircraft sank the first 2 U-boats sunk by the USN, U-656 on 1 March, 1942 and U-503 on 15 March.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-656 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.



German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel

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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998