List of all U-boats
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 |
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Career 5 patrols |
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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 |
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.
U-boat Emblems
We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
Corkscrew on Shield |
Media links
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