German submarine U-262
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-262 |
Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
Yard number | 27 |
Laid down | 29 May 1941 |
Launched | 10 March 1942 |
Commissioned | 15 April 1942 |
Fate |
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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[1][2] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 45 835 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
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German submarine U-262 was a
during World War II.The submarine was laid down on 29 May 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 27. She was launched on 10 March 1942 and commissioned on 15 April under the command of Kapitänleutnant Günther Schiebusch.
She was a member of nine wolfpacks, sinking three merchant ships and one warship.[1]
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
First and second patrols
Having moved from Kiel in Germany to Bergen in Norway in September 1942, U-262's first patrol was marked by an unsuccessful attack by two Lockheed Hudsons, but the damage inflicted was serious enough to warrant an early return to Bergen.
Her second foray followed the Norwegian coast to Narvik but was otherwise uneventful.[2]
Third patrol
The U-boat sailed from Narvik on 5 November 1942, now under the command of
On 18 November, as part of wolfpack Kreuzotter, she attacked the
She also sank the 7,178 GRT British cargo ship Ocean Crusader, a straggler from Convoy HX 216 northeast of St. John's on 26 November.[5] U-262 arrived at her new home port of La Pallice on the French Atlantic coast on 9 December 1942.[2]
Fourth patrol
The U-boat departed La Pallice on 16 January 1943 for a patrol out into the mid-Atlantic. On 6 February she fired five torpedoes at a tanker and a steamer, sinking the 2,864 GRT Polish cargo ship Zagloba, 600 nautical miles (1,100 km; 690 mi) east southeast of Cape Farewell (Greenland),[6] a straggler of Convoy SC 118. There were no survivors.
U-262 returned to La Pallice on 15 February.[7]
Fifth patrol
U-262 sailed again on 27 March 1943 and headed across the Atlantic to
Sixth patrol
U-262 left La Pallice next on 24 July 1943, commanded by the newly promoted Kapitänleutnant
Seventh patrol
The U-boat sailed on 14 October 1943 for the waters northeast of the Azores. There she was involved in attacks on three Allied convoys. On 31 October during the attack on SL 138/MKS 28, she sank the Norwegian 2,968 GRT merchant ship Hallfried.[10] Franke's actions in this patrol were marked by efficient shadowing and determined attacks, for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
U-262 returned to La Pallice on 7 December.[11]
Eighth and ninth patrol
Under a new commander, Oblt.z.S. Helmut Wieduwilt, U-262 covered the area southwest of Iceland on 3 February 1944, but had no success. She returned home on 29 April after 87 days at sea.[12] U-262's next patrol was similarly uneventful, but lasted only 10 days from 6–15 June. She did not leave the Bay of Biscay.[13] She returned to La Pallice to be fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus.[1]
Tenth patrol
After an air raid killed three and wounded one of her crew, the U-boat sailed from La Pallice on 23 August 1944, north to the area south of Iceland, before heading east and south through the North Sea to Flensburg, arriving on 5 November after 75 days.[14]
Damage and disposal
While at
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[15] |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 November 1942 | HNoMS Montbretia | Royal Norwegian Navy | 925 | Sunk |
26 November 1942 | Ocean Crusader | United Kingdom | 7,178 | Sunk |
6 February 1943 | Zagloba | Poland | 2,864 | Sunk |
31 October 1943 | Hallfried | Norway | 2,968 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-262". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-262". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "HNoMS Montbretia (K 208) (Corvette)". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ocean Crusader (Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Zagloba (Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 16 Jan 1943 to 15 Feb 1943". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 27 Mar 1943 to 25 May 1943". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 24 Jul 1943 to 2 Sep 1943". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hallfried (Steam merchant)". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 14 Oct 1943 to 7 Dec 1943". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 3 Feb 1944 to 29 Apr 1944". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 6 Jun 1944 to 15 Jun 1944". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-262 from 23 Aug 1944 to 5 Nov 1944". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-262". 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, 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 VIIC boat U-262". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 262". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.