French submarine Laubie (S610)
 Insignia of U-766 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-766 |
| Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder: | Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven |
| Yard number: | 149 |
| Laid down: | 1 March 1941 |
| Launched: | 29 May 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 30 July 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 24 August 1944 |
 France
| |
| Name: | Laubie |
| Namesake: | Louis Laubie |
| Acquired: | 8 May 1945 |
| Commissioned: | 1946 |
| In service: | 1946 |
| Out of service: | 1961 |
| Fate: | Broken up, 1963 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) |
| Beam: | 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion: | Diesel-electric |
| Speed: |
|
| Range: | 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) |
| Test depth: | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
German submarine U-766 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the navy (Kriegsmarine) of Nazi Germany during World War II. She was later incorporated in the French Navy, where she served as Laubie.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-766 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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 supercharged diesel 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-766 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
Service history
Kriegsmarine
U-766 was launched in Wilhelmshaven on 29 May 1943, and was commissioned on 30 July 1943 under the command Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Dietrich Wilke. She was part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training until 29 February 1944, when she was transferred to the frontline in the 6th U-boat flotilla.[2]
She sailed five uneventful patrols.[3]
She was de-commissioned at La Rochelle on 24 August 1944, and was surrendered on 8 May 1945.
Marine Nationale
In May 1945 U-766 was transferred to France and brought into French service under captain Brunet. She was in a poor shape, and pieces of U-415 were used to repair her. In the process, she was also fitted with a snorkel. Her trials were accomplished by a mostly German crew composed of war prisoners, with Wilke acting as first officer.[4]
U-766 was commissioned in 1946 as Laubie (pennant number S610), in honour of Louis Laubie, an engineer killed in the wreck of the submarine Protée.[5]
Laubie was transferred to Toulon. On 17 July 1950, Laubie was accidentally rammed by the frigate Surprise as she was emerging. She managed to surface and return to Casablanca with a heavily damaged sail.[5]
In 1956, Laubie took part in naval operations of the Suez crisis as a backup to Créole.[6] On 2 May 1960, Laubie was again rammed, this time by the liner Ville de Marseille, off Algiers. Her stern was damaged over 9 metres.[4] She sustained one last accident in September 1961, when she collided with Espadon at periscope depth. Severely damaged, Laubie was decommissioned, and broken up in 1963.[4]
References
- Notes
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-766". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-766". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
- 1 2 3 "S 610 : LAUBIE - Section RUBIS". www.sectionrubis.fr. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
- 1 2 "DATES MARQUANTES ET ANECDOTES DU PORT DE LA ROCHELLE-PALLICE". francois.delboca.free.fr. Archived from the original on 2002-06-01. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
- ↑ Paterson, Lawrence (2009). Black Flag: The Surrender of Germany's U-Boat Force. MBI Publishing Company. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7603-3754-7.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- "The Type VIIC boat U-766". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- section Rubis: (S 610) LAUBIE (French)
- francois.delboca.free.fr:LE LAUBIE ex U-766 (French)