German submarine U-2524

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-2524
Ordered6 November 1943
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number2524
Laid down6 September 1944
Launched30 October 1944
Commissioned16 January 1945
FateCrippled by air attack and scuttled, 3 May 1945
General characteristics
Class & type Type XXI submarine
Displacement
  • 1,621  t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,819 t (1,790 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 60.50 m (198 ft 6 in) (p/h)
Beam
  • 8 m (26 ft 3 in) (o/a)
  • 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) (p/h)
Height11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Installed power
  • 4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) (diesel drive)
  • 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) (standard electric drive)
  • 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp) (silent electric drive)
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 depth280 m (920 ft)
Complement57–60 crewmen
Sensors &
processing systems
Armament
Service record
Part of
Identification codesM 49 299
Commanders
  • Kptlt. Ernst von Witzendorff [1]
  • 16 January – 3 May 1945
OperationsNone
VictoriesNone

German submarine U-2524 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the " Elektroboote ") 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 September 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2524. She was launched on 30 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Ernst von Witzendorff on 16 January 1945. [1]

Contents

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2524 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). [2] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts ; 3,900 shaft horsepower ), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp). [2]

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). [2] U-2524 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. [2]

Service history and fate

U-2524 was commissioned on 16 January 1945 and assigned to the 31st U-boat Flotilla at Hamburg for working up and training. [1] She had not completed this and had carried out no war patrols before being forced to flee the advancing Allied armies.

Sources vary as to her fate: Kemp and Tarrant report she was attacked on 3 May 1945 by Beaufighters from 236 and 254 Squadrons east of Samso and hit with rocket and cannon fire. Kemp states she was left burning and was seen to explode; Tarrant states she survived but was scuttled later. [3] [4] However Niestle states simply that she was scuttled on 3 May 1945, in the Kattegat southeast of the island of Fehmarn. [5] One man was killed but the rest of the crew survived. [1]

The wreck is believed to be located at 54°26′N11°39′E / 54.433°N 11.650°E / 54.433; 11.650 . [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2524". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 85.
  3. ↑ Kemp p.257
  4. ↑ Tarrant p.140
  5. 1 2 Niestle p. 161

Bibliography

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