Sinking of German submarine U-761. U-761’s crew abandons ship after she was crippled by British destroyer and US Navy (VP 63) aircraft attacks in the Strait of Gibraltar.
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-761
Ordered	9 October 1939
Builder	Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven
Yard number	144
Laid down	16 December 1940
Launched	26 September 1942
Commissioned	3 December 1942
Fate	Scuttled on 24 February 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	220 m (720 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 44–52 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 3 December 1942 – 31 July 1943 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1943 – 24 February 1944
Identification codes:	M 51 100
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Horst Geider[1] 3 December 1942 – 24 February 1944
Operations:	2 patrols: 1st patrol: 17 November – 26 December 1943 2nd patrol: 8 – 24 February 1944
Victories:	None

German submarine U-761 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was ordered on 9 October 1939, and was laid down on 16 December 1940, at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 144. She was launched on 26 September 1942, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst Geider on 3 December 1942.^[2]

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-761 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[3] 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).^[3]

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).^[3] 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-761 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.^[3]

U-761 participated in two war patrols that yielded no ships sunk or damaged.^[2]

On 24 February 1944, U-761 was badly damaged by depth charges and scuttled after being attacked by British destroyers Anthony and Wishart, an RAF Catalina of 202 Sqn RAF/G, a USN Ventura of VB-127 USN/B-46 and two USN Catalina's of VP-63 USN/P-14 & 15. Oblt.z.S. Horst Geider and 47 other crewmen, of a crew of 57, survived the attack.^[2]

The wreck now lies at 35°55′N 05°45′W / 35.917°N 5.750°W / 35.917; -5.750.^[2]

U-761 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:^[2]

• Coronel (4 – 8 December 1943)
• Coronel 1 (8 – 14 December 1943)
• Coronel 2 (14 – 16 December 1943)

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-761". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.