German submarine U-1276

German submarine U-1276 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of the German Navy, built for service during World War II. She was laid down at Bremer Vulkan of Bremen-Vegesack on July 13, 1943. She was commissioned April 6, 1944 with Oberleutnant Karl Heinz Wendt in command. U-1276 was equipped with a submarine snorkel (underwater-breathing apparatus) when she sailed on her last cruise.

Fate
At 11:45 hours on 20 February 1945, U-1276 sank HMS Vervain, (LtCdr R.A. Howell, RNVR), a Flower-class corvette escorting convoy HX-337. Vervain sank after 20 minutes about 25 nmi south-east of Dungarvan, Ireland. The commander, three officers and 56 ratings were lost. Three officers and 31 ratings were rescued. HMS Amethyst (LtCdr N. Scott-Elliot, DSC, RN), which was part of the same convoy, then sank U-1276 by depth charges, off Waterford, Ireland at position 51.8°N, -7.11667°W. All hands (49) were lost.

Post war
In 2006, a group of divers from Ardmore Diving discovered the wreck site of the U-1276 some 20 nmi south of Youghal. The submarine is lying in 75 m of water and largely intact, albeit visibly damaged by the depth charges that sank her.