German World War II submarine
 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) and an M-class minsweeper escort (M403) 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.
|
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Armament | |
| Service record |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
- Kptlt. Gert Mannesmann[1]
- 19 July 1944 – 8 April 1945
- Kptlt. Hans Hornkohl[2]
- 9 – 12 April 1945
- Kptlt. Heinz Franke[3]
- 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). 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).
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). 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.
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 / 56.100°N 9.000°W / 56.100; -9.000.
