German submarine U-2503
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-2503 |
| Ordered | 6 November 1943 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 2503 |
| Laid down | 2 May 1944 |
| Launched | 29 June 1944 |
| Commissioned | 1 August 1944 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 4 May 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type XXI submarine |
| Displacement | |
| 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 |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
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| Test depth | 240 m (790 ft) |
| Complement | 5 officers, 52 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 41 704 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-2503 was a
Design
Like all
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).
Fate
On 3 May 1945, while on her way to Norway, U-2503 was in the Great Belt, near the Ömo Light Tower, when she was caught and attacked on the surface by Royal Air Force (RAF) Bristol Beaufighters of 236 Squadron and 254 Squadron, part of the Banff Strike Wing. U-2503 was struck in the area of the conning tower by at least one rocket, which caused severe damage and killed several crewmen and Kapitänleutnant Karl-Jürg Wächter. U-2503, burning badly, was beached off of Omø, with 13 dead and an unknown number of survivors. The remaining crew landed ashore and scuttled the boat with explosives the next day.
U-2503's location when scuttled, 55°09′N 11°08′E / 55.150°N 11.133°E.
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Raimund Tiesler". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Richard Becker". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Karl-Jürg Wächter". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2503". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d 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-2503". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
