German submarine U-251

U-251 in Narvik in July 1942
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-251
Ordered23 September 1939
BuilderBremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen
Yard number16
Laid down18 October 1940
Launched26 July 1941
Commissioned20 September 1941
FateSunk 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 typeType 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[3][4]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 15 758
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 10 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 20 – 25 April 1942
  • b. 29 April – 7 May 1942
  • c. 9 – 13 May 1942
  • d. 15 – 17 May 1942
  • e. 22 – 24 May 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 26 – 29 May 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 7 June – 5 July 1942
  • b. 6 – 15 July 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 14 August 1942
  • b. 15 Aug – 13 September 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 14 September – 3 October 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 14 February – 1 March 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 18 March – 21 April 1943
  • b. 8 – 10 May 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 12 – 29 May 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 13 – 24 June 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • 16 – 19 April 1945
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(11,408 GRT)

German submarine U-251 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 18 October 1940 at the Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft (yard) in Bremen as yard number 16, launched on 26 July 1941 and commissioned on 20 September under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Timm.[3]

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]

  1. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 251.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-251". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  5. ^ Diving on Nazi submarine U-251. Retrieved 10 May 2024 – via www.youtube.com.