German submarine U-296

German submarine U-296 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 23 January 1943 by the Bremer Vulkan Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as 'werk' 61, launched on 5 September 1943 and commissioned on 3 November with Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Rasch in command.

In three patrols, she did not sink or damage any ships.

She was regarded as missing with all hands (42 men), in the approaches to the North Channel, (between Northern Ireland and mainland Great Britain), in March 1945.

Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in November 1943. She was then transferred to the 9th flotilla for operations on 1 August 1944. She was reassigned to the 11th flotilla on 1 October.

She made the short journey from Kiel in Germany to Horten in Norway, arriving on 31 July 1944 and moving on to Bergen on 6 August.

1st patrol
U-296's first patrol between Bergen and Trondheim, took her through the 'gap' between the Shetland and Faroe Islands, both outbound and inbound.

2nd patrol
The boat's second sortie was similar to her first; starting in Trondheim and terminating in Stavanger. She reached northern Scotland, but this time she passed between Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

3rd patrol and fate
Having left Bergen in late February 1945, she was listed as missing on 12 March in the North Channel, a possible victim of a mine.

Previously recorded fate
U-296 was originally thought to have been sunk by a torpedo from a British B-24 Liberator of No. 120 Squadron RAF.