German submarine U-2502

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
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2502
Ordered	6 November 1943
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	2502
Laid down	25 April 1944
Launched	15 June 1944
Commissioned	19 July 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Horten Naval Base, Norway Sunk on 2 January 1946 during Operation Deadlight
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
Length	76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam	8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Height	11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught	6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	Diesel/Electric 2 × MAN M6V40/46KBB supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engines, 2,000 PS (1,500 kW; 2,000 shp) 2 × SSW GU365/30 double-acting electric motors, 2,500 PS (1,800 kW; 2,500 shp) 2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors, 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp)
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 depth	240 m (790 ft)
Complement	5 officers, 52 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems	Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar Detector
Armament	6 × bow torpedo tubes 23 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (or 17 × torpedoes and 12 × mines) 4 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 19 July 1944 – 1 March 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
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.

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′N 09°00′W.

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. Gröner 1991, p. 85.

Bibliography

• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXI boat U-2502". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.