German submarine U-258

Last updated
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-258
Ordered23 December 1939
Builder Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number23
Laid down20 March 1941
Launched13 December 1941
Commissioned4 February 1942
FateSunk 20 May 1943 by RAF Liberator
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500  nmi (15,700  km; 9,800  mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record [1] [2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 23 837
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Wilhelm von Mässenhausen
  • 4 February 1942 – 20 May 1943
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 1 September – 27 October 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 2 – 6 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 10 January – 4 March 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 1 March – 20 May 1943
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(6,198  GRT)

German submarine U-258 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack on 20 March 1941 as yard number 23. She was launched on 13 December and commissioned on 4 February 1942.

Contents

U-258 was sunk by a Royal Air Force Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of 120 Squadron in the North Atlantic on 20 May 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-258 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). [3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-258 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [3]

Wolfpacks

U-258 took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)
Fate [4]
29 April 1943 McKeesport Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,198Sunk

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References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-258". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by U-258". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-258". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography