German submarine U-1276


German submarine U-1276 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service during World War II. She was laid down at Bremer Vulkan of Bremen-Vegesack on 13 July 1943. She was commissioned 6 April 1944 with Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Wendt in command. U-1276 was equipped with a submarine snorkel when she sailed on her last cruise.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-1276 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-1276 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun,, one Flak M42 and two C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

At 11:45 on 20 February 1945, U-1276 sank,, a escorting convoy HX 337. Vervain sank after 20 minutes about south-east of Dungarvan, Ireland. The commander, three officers and 56 ratings were lost. Three officers and 31 ratings were rescued., which was part of the same convoy, then sank U-1276 by depth charges, off Waterford, Ireland at position. All hands aboard the U-boat were lost.

Post war

In 2006, a group of divers from Ardmore Diving discovered the wreck site of U-1276 some south of Youghal. The submarine is lying in of water and largely intact, albeit visibly damaged by the depth charges that sank her.