French submarine Laubie
German World War II submarine
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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.
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 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 8 May 1945. Transferred to French Navy |
 France | |
| Name | Laubie |
| Namesake | Louis Laubie |
| Acquired | 8 May 1945 |
| Commissioned | 1946 |
| In service | 1946 |
| Out of service | 1961 |
| Identification | Pennant number: S610 |
| Fate | Broken up in 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 |
|
| Service record (Kriegsmarine)[1] | |
| Part of |
|
| Identification codes | M 53 610 |
| Commanders |
|
| Operations |
|
| Victories | None |
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.[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 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).[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-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), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
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.[1]
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]
