German submarine U-16 (1936)

German submarine U-16 was a Type IIB U-boat of the Nazi Kriegsmarine that served during World War II. It was launched on April 28 1936, under the command of Heinz Beduhn, with a crew of 23. Its last of four commanders was Horst Wellner.

From September 2 1939, until October 25 1939, U-16 took part in the laying of mines in open water in and around the English Channel, to hamper allied shipping. On September 28 1939, U-16 sank the Swedish 3,378 ton Nyland. The 57 ton French Sainte Claire was sunk by one of the mines laid by U-16 on November 21 1939.

Fate
On October 25 1939, U-16 was transiting the Dover Strait when it was attacked by HMS Puffin (L52) and HMS Cayton Wyke. Trying to avoid the depth charges from both ships, U-16 ran aground on the Goodwin Sands, an area that was notorious for both sides. U-16 was lost with all hands; other U-Boats were subsequently obliged to take the significantly longer route north of Scotland to the Western Approaches and the north Atlantic.