U-396

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

6 Jun 1942

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 28)

Launched

27 Aug 1943

Commissioned

16 Oct 1943

Oblt. Ernst-Günther Unterhorst

Commanders

16 Oct 1943	-	Mar, 1945		Kptlt. Ernst-Günther Unterhorst
Mar, 1945	-	11 Apr 1945		Kptlt. Hilmar Siemon

Career
5 patrols

16 Oct 1943	-	31 May 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1944	-	30 Sep 1944	1. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	11 Apr 1945	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Missing since 11 April 1945 in the North Atlantic south of Iceland. No explanation exists for its loss. 45 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, June 1993).

Loss position

View the 5 war patrols

U-396 was on weather reporting duty in the North Atlantic and sent its last radio message from approx. position 57.30N, 26.00W on 11 April 1945, stating that it started its return trip to Trondheim due to damage to its forward hydroplanes. The boat was posted as missing after it failed to return to port or signal its position after cessation of hostilities.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 23 April, 1945, in the North Atlantic southwest of the Shetlands, in position 59.29N, 05.22W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 86/U). (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This was probably against a nonsub target.

Attacks on this boat and other events

28 Jun 1944
20.08 hrs, NNE of the Shetlands: a British Catalina flying boat (RAF Sqdn 210/Q, pilot F/O J.C. Campbell) exchanged gunfire during a strafing run, then dropped depth charges after the boat dived. There were no hits to the aircraft, but U-396 was forced to return to Bergen by a carbon monoxide leak. (Sources: Franks)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in May 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-396 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.