German submarine U-2502

Last updated

Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. C5338.jpg
A German type XXI submarine, U-2502, comes under cannon fire from a De Havilland Mosquito FB Mark VI during an attack on four surfaced U-boats (U-251, U-320, U-2502, U-2335) [1] [2] and an M-class minsweeper escort (M403) [3] in the Kattegat by 22 Mosquitos of the Banff Strike Wing. U-2502 received only slight damage, but a type VIIC submarine (U-251) was sunk, a type XXIII (U-2335) seriously damaged and the minesweeper left burning. [4] [5]
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-2502
Ordered6 November 1943
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number2502
Laid down25 April 1944
Launched15 June 1944
Commissioned19 July 1944
Fate
General characteristics
Class and type Type XXI submarine
Displacement
  • 1,621  t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 2,100 t (2,067 long tons) submerged
Length76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Height11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced:
  • 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) (diesel)
  • 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) (electric)
  • Submerged:
  • 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (electric)
  • 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) (silent running motors)
Range
  • 15,500 nmi (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth240 m (790 ft)
Complement5 officers, 52 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 658
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Gert Mannesmann [6]
  • 19 July 1944 – 8 April 1945
  • Kptlt. Hans Hornkohl [7]
  • 9 – 12 April 1945
  • Kptlt. Heinz Franke [8]
  • 12 April – 9 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-2502 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the " Elektroboote ") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine , built for service in World War II. The submarine was laid down on 25 April 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 15 June 1944, and commissioned on 19 July 1944 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Gert Mannesmann, who commanded her until 8 April 1945.

Contents

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2502 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in). [9] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 2,000 metric horsepower (1,500 kilowatts ; 2,000 shaft horsepower ), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 2,500 PS (1,800 kW; 2,500 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp). [9]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). [9] U-2502 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men. [9]

Fate

U-2502 conducted no patrols, and surrendered on 9 May 1945 in Horten Naval Base, Norway. She was then transferred to Oslo on 18 May 1945, then Scapa Flow on 6 June 1945. On 1 January 1946 she was taken to Moville, near Lisahally. From there she was sunk the following day at 56°06′N09°00′W / 56.100°N 9.000°W / 56.100; -9.000 .

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-3010 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine.

German submarine U-3509 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The Elektroboote submarine was laid down on 29 July 1944 at the Schichau-Werke yard at Danzig, launched on 27 September 1944, and commissioned on 29 January 1945 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Voswinkel.

German submarine U-2507 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 4 June 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2507. She was launched on 14 August 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Paul Siegmann on 8 September 1944.

German submarine U-2512 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 13 July 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2512. She was launched on 7 September 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hubert Nordheimer on 10 October 1944.

German submarine U-2520 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 24 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2520. She was launched on 16 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albrecht Schubart on 25 December 1944.

German submarine U-2522 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 28 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2522. She was launched on 22 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Horst-Thilo Queck on 22 November 1944.

German submarine U-3022 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 6 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 1181. She was launched on 30 November 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Paul Weber on 25 January 1945.

German submarine U-3015 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 25 August 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1174. She was launched on 27 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Peter-Ottmar Grau on 17 December 1944.

German submarine U-3510 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 6 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1655. She was launched on 4 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ernst-Werner Schwirley on 11 November 1944.

German submarine U-3018 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 18 September 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1177. She was launched on 9 November 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried Breinlinger on 7 January 1945.

German submarine U-3516 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 28 August 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1661. She was launched on 4 November 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Wengel on 18 December 1944.

German submarine U-3011 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 14 August 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1170. She was launched on 20 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Tinschert on 21 December 1944.

German submarine U-3530 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. It was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 3 November 1944 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1675. It was launched on 26 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm Brauel on 22 March 1945.

German submarine U-2534 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 23 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2534. She was launched on 11 December 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Drews on 17 January 1945.

German submarine U-2539 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 27 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2539. She was launched on 6 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erich Jewinski on 21 February 1945.

German submarine U-2543 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 13 November 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2543. She was launched on 9 February 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gottfried Stolzenburg on 7 March 1945.

German submarine U-3034 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 14 November 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1193. She was launched on 21 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm Prehn on 31 March 1945.

German submarine U-2533 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 13 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2533. She was launched on 7 December 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Horst Günther on 18 January 1945.

German submarine U-3006 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 12 June 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1165. She was launched on 25 August 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Klaus Popp on 5 October 1944.

German submarine U-3040 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 9 December 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1199. She was launched on 10 February 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Robbert on 8 March 1945.

References

  1. "U 251 Wracktauchen Ostsee | Bubblewatcher Tauchservice". 9 February 2016.
  2. "Wrack Tour zu Anholt".
  3. "Wrack Tour zu Anholt".
  4. "U 251 Wracktauchen Ostsee | Bubblewatcher Tauchservice". 9 February 2016.
  5. "Minensuchboot 1940 Ships".
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gert Mannesmann (German Cross in Gold)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Hornkohl". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  8. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Franke (Knight's Cross)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 85.

Bibliography