German World War II submarine
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|
| History |
|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|---|
| Name | U-253 |
| Ordered | 23 September 1939 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 18 |
| Laid down | 15 November 1940 |
| Launched | 30 August 1941 |
| Commissioned | 21 October 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk, 25 September 1942 |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam |
- 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
- 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 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 | |
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament | |
| Service record[2][3] |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: |
M 33 347 |
| Commanders: |
- Kptlt. Adolf Friedrichs
- 21 October 1941 – 25 September 1942
|
| Operations: |
- 1 patrol:
- 12 – 25 September 1942
|
| Victories: |
None |
German submarine U-253 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
The U-boat was laid down 15 November 1940 at the Bremer Vulkan yard in Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 30 August 1941 and commissioned on 21 October 1941. U-253 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training and later served operationally with the 6th U-boat Flotilla from 1 to 25 September 1942. U-253 completed one patrol but did not sink any ships.
U-253 was sunk with all hands on 25 September 1942 in the Denmark Strait, northwest of Iceland, at 66°59′59.9″N 23°0′0″W / 66.999972°N 23.00000°W / 66.999972; -23.00000. The cause of U-253's loss is not clear, but believed to be a British mine in the Northern Barrage.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-253 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
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). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-253 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
