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
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