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 (underwater-breathing apparatus) 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 (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), 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 , (Lt. Cdr. R.A. Howell, RNVR in command), 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. (Lt. Cdr. N. Scott-Elliot, DSC, RN in command), 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 (49) 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. Summary of raiding history See also Battle of the Atlantic References Notes Citations Bibliography External links German Type VIIC/41 submarines U-boats commissioned in 1944 U-boats sunk in 1945 World War II submarines