German submarine U-216

German submarine U-216 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down 1 January 1941 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 648. She was launched on 23 October 1941 and commissioned on 15 December 1941 with Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Otto Schultz in command.

Design
As one of the six German Type VIID submarines, U-216 had a displacement of 965 t when at the surface and 1080 t while submerged. She had a total length of 76.90 m, a pressure hull length of 59.80 m, a beam of 6.38 m, a height of 9.70 m, and a draught of 5.01 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 shp for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16 - 16.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 69 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 11200 nmi at 10 kn. U-216 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), twelve torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun, in addition to five mine tubes with fifteen SMA mines. The boat had a complement of between forty-four.

Service history
U-216 conducted only one patrol, sailing from Kiel on 29 August 1942. On 25 September, U-216 fired four torpedoes at the British Coast Lines Limited ship, Boston. After three hits, the survivors from the ship were picked up by HMS Veteran (D72) which was sunk the next day by GS U-404. On 20 October 1942, the U-boat was depth charged by a British Liberator aircraft and sunk south-west of Ireland in position 48.35°N, -19.41667°W with all hands lost.

Wolfpacks
U-216 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
 * Lohs (13 – 15 September 1942)
 * Pfeil (15 – 22 September 1942)
 * Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942)
 * Luchs (27 – 29 September 1942)
 * Letzte Ritter (29 September - 1 October 1942)
 * Wotan (5 – 17 October 1942)