German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-960 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder superchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-960 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 28 January 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 9,656 gross register tons (GRT), plus one auxiliary warship of 611 GRT.[1]
First patrol
In August 1943 U-960 carried out a patrol in the Barents Sea over a 15 day period, but had no success.
Second patrol
In September 1943 she was part of the U-boat group Wiking on patrol in the Kara Sea beyond Novaya Zemlya. At the end of the month she fell in with a Soviet convoy, VA-18 and sank two ships, the steamer Archangelsk and the naval trawler/minesweeper T-896.
Third patrol
In December 1943 she was transferred to La Pallice, making a 62 day patrol in the North Atlantic en route. She took part in four patrol lines during this period and had one success, sinking the freighter Sumner I. Kimball, which had fallen out of convoy ON 219. She arrived at La Pallice in March 1944.
Fourth patrol
Later that month U-960 was assigned to weather-reporting, but was recalled after a few days. On returning under escort and in company with U-763 the flotilla was attacked by Tsetse Mosquito aircraft; U-960 suffered 14 casualties.[3]
Fifth and final patrol
In April U-960 was transferred to the Mediterranean, passing the Straits of Gibraltar on 9 May. On 17 May she spotted the destroyer Ellyson and fired three torpedoes, which missed. This sparked a massive hunt involving a hunter-killer group of five destroyers and aircraft from two RAF squadrons. After a 42 hour hunt U-960 was forced to the surface and sunk.[1]
U-960 was sunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean NW of Algiers, in position 37°20′N01°35′E / 37.333°N 1.583°E / 37.333; 1.583 following a 42 hour "hunt to exhaustion".
Following her attack on Ellyson on 17 May U-960 was pursued by a group of five US destroyers (Benson, Ludlow, Madison, Niblack and Woolsey), assisted by aircraft of 36 and 500 Squadrons, in a "Swamp" operation. U-960 lay low during the daytime but late on 17 May she surfaced to recharge batteries: she was sighted and forced under but early on 18 May was able to surface and re-charge batteries. During the next day U-960 evaded detection but in the early hours of 19 May she was spotted again on the surface by a Wellington of 36 Squadron which called in destroyers Niblack and Ludlow. These carried out a series of depth-charge attacks over a four hour period, assisted also by a Ventura of 500 Squadron: U-960 was forced to the surface and abandoned. 20 of her 51 crew were saved.[4][5][6]
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat Commanders of World War II: A Biographical Dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Maryland: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
