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 (German Cross in Gold)

Career
3 patrols

15 Dec 1941	-	31 Jul 1942	4. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942	-	15 May 1943	10. Flottille (active service)

Successes

11 ships sunk, total tonnage 53,307 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 15 May 1943 in the Florida Straits north-east of Havana, in position 23.21N, 80.18W, by depth charges from the Cuban patrol craft CS 13. 53 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

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

A US Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher aircraft (VS-62 USN/1) located the crash-diving U-176, dipped her wings and dropped smoke floats to mark the spot for the Cuban patrol craft CS 13 which then approached and dropped a pattern of three depth charges resulting in four explosions on the submerged U-boat.

Wolfpack operations

U-176 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Steinbrinck (5 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1942)
Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 1 Sep 1942)

Attacks on this boat and other events

25 Aug 1942
After a successful attack on convoy ONS 122, the surfaced boat sighted HMS Viscount and at 02.12 hrs fired a stern torpedo, which missed astern because it was a surface runner. The destroyer then dropped five depth charges on the diving U-boat, none of which caused any damage. While turning for another attack, HMS Viscount sighted U-605 and left to pursue her. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-176)

25 Aug 1942
At 06.13 hrs, U-176 encountered HMS Viscount astern of convoy ONS 122 in thick fog. The destroyer was searching for another U-boat they had attacked earlier, and investigated a radar contact by firing a star shell. On sighting U-176 on the surface nearby, Viscount opened fire with the 20mm AA guns, but they could not be depressed enough. The U-boat crash-dived at a steep angle of more than 45° to a depth of 120m (394 ft). The destroyer dropped five depth charges, which caused only minor damage, before losing Asdic contact, and returned to the convoy on sighting oil on the surface after sweeping the area for 20 minutes. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-176)

17 Dec 1942
17.42 hrs, off Recife, Brazil: an unidentified Catalina flying boat dropped three bombs on the boat as she dived, forcing her to the surface, where she was strafed before diving again. Battery damage limited the ability to dive, so U-176 withdrew from the area out to sea to make repairs, which took two days. (Sources: Ritschel)

3 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.