German submarine U-251
![]() U-251 in Narvik in July 1942
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History | |
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Name | U-251 |
Ordered | 23 September 1939 |
Builder | Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen |
Yard number | 16 |
Laid down | 18 October 1940 |
Launched | 26 July 1941 |
Commissioned | 20 September 1941 |
Fate | Sunk by rockets from no less than eight British and Norwegian Mosquitos of 143, 235 and 248 squadrons in the Kattegat on 19 April 1945[1][2] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[3][4] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 15 758 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
2 merchant ships sunk (11,408 GRT) |
German submarine U-251 was a
In ten patrols, she sank two ships of 11,408 gross register tons (GRT). She was a member of three wolfpacks.
She was sunk by British and Norwegian aircraft in the Kattegat on 19 April 1945.
The U-251 can be seen on YouTube video 'Diving on Nazi submarine U-251'.[5]
Design
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).
Service history
After training with the 6th U-boat Flotilla, she became operational on 1 May 1942. U-245 was transferred to the 11th flotilla on 1 July and the 13th flotilla on 1 June 1943. There followed spells with the 24th, 21st and 31st flotillas,[3] (see infobox for dates).
First patrol
The boat's first patrol was preceded by a short trip between
Second patrol
Her second patrol was also in May and covered the eastern Norwegian Sea.
Third patrol
The submarine sank the El Capitan on 17 July 1942 near northeast Iceland. This ship was with Convoy PQ 17 before being attacked by Luftwaffe Ju 88s. The ship had been abandoned; U-251 finished her off.
For the rest of her career, the U-boat patrolled northern waters; at one time steaming as far north and east as Novaya Zemlya in the Kara Sea.
Tenth patrol and loss
By the time of her tenth sortie, the Allies dominated the air. This situation was dramatically demonstrated when the boat was sunk by rockets from no less than eight British and Norwegian Mosquitos of 143, 235 and 248 squadrons in the Kattegat on 19 April 1945.
Thirty-nine men died; there were four survivors.
Wolfpacks
U-251 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:
- Strauchritter (29 April – 5 May 1942)
- Eisteufel (21 June – 12 July 1942)
- Eisbär (27 March – 15 April 1943)
Summary of raiding history
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage ( GRT )
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Fate[7] |
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3 May 1942 | Jutland | ![]() |
6,153 | Sunk |
10 July 1942 | El Capitan | ![]() |
5,255 | Sunk |
References
- ^ Kemp 1999, p. 251.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ Diving on Nazi submarine U-251. Retrieved 10 May 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
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, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 251". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.