U-196

Type

IXD2

Ordered

4 Nov 1940

Laid down

10 Jun 1941

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1042)

Launched

24 Apr 1942

Commissioned

11 Sep 1942

Kptlt. 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)

Successes

3 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.