Unterseeboot 260

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Unterseeboot 260 (U-260) was a Type VIIC submarine of the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid down May 7, 1941 by Bremer Vulkan, of Bremen-Vegesack. She was commissioned March 14, 1942 with Kapitänleutnant Herbertus Purkhold in command.

U-260 conducted 9 patrols in total. On her second patrol U-260 was part of the wolf pack which attacked Convoy ONS-154, making contact with the convoy on December 28, 1942, and sinking the Empire Wagtail (lost with all hands) totalling 4,893 tons (this was the only ship sunk by U-260).

Purkhold was relieved in April of 1944 by Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Becker. Becker commanded the boat until March 1945.

On March 12, 1945, U-260 was scuttled south of Ireland, in position 51°15′N 09°05′W, after sustaining mine damage. The crew were interned in Ireland for the remainder of the war. In her entire career, U-260 suffered no casualties to her crew.

[edit] Post war

The wreck site of the U-260 was discovered in 1975 by Colin Barnes (a local fishermen) after snagging nets, though it was presumed that the wreck of the Counsellor (due to a mine in 1917) was in the area. A friend of his, Joe Barry, dove on the noted position and discovered the U-boat rather than the expected cargo ship.

U-260 currently lies in about 40 to 45m depth approximately 4 miles south of Glandore, and is a popular scuba diving site from Baltimore, County Cork and Union Hall.

There is recent speculation that U-260 did not actually strike a mine, but instead struck an underwater pinnacle (now known as '78 Rock' but which was uncharted at the time) leading to its damaged state.