German submarine U-960

German submarine U-960 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 20 March 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 160, launched on 3 December 1942 and commissioned on 28 January 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Günther Heinrich.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-960 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS 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 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-960 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 28 January 1943, followed by active service on 1 August 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In five patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of, plus one auxiliary warship of 611 tons.

Wolfpacks
U-960 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
 * Wiking (20 September – 3 October 1943)
 * Coronel 1 (15–17 December 1943)
 * Amrum (18–23 December 1943)
 * Rügen 4 (23–28 December 1943)
 * Rügen 3 (28–31 December 1943)

Fate
U-960 was sunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean NW of Algiers, in position 37.33333°N, 1.58333°W, by depth charges from USS Niblack (DD-424), USS Ludlow (DD-438) plus Wellington and Ventura aircraft.