German submarine U-2502

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:	Surrendered 9 May 1945 at Horten, Norway
General characteristics
Class & 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:	Diesel/Electric 2 × MAN M6V40/46KBB supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engines, 4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) 2 × SSW GU365/30 double-acting electric motors, 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) 2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors, 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp)
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:	Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar Detector
Armament:	6 × bow torpedo tubes 23 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (or 17 × torpedoes and 12 × mines) 4 × 2 cm (0.8 in) AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 19 July 1944 – 1 March 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 8 May 1945
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 – 8 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 Kptlt. 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 length of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught length of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).^[4] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).^[4]

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).^[4] U-2502 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.8 in) anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.^[4]

Fate

U-2502 conducted no patrols, and surrendered on 9 May 1945 in Horten, 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; -9.000Coordinates: 56°06′N 09°00′W / 56.100°N 9.000°W / 56.100; -9.000.

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gert Mannesmann (German Cross in Gold)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Hornkohl". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Franke (Knight's Cross)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 85.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) 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 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

"The Type XXI boat U-2502". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.

Type XXI submarines

U-2501 U-2502 U-2504 U-2505 U-2506 U-2507 U-2508 U-2509 U-2510 U-2511 U-2512 U-2513 U-2514 U-2515 U-2517 U-2514 U-2518 U-2519 U-2520 U-2521 U-2522 U-2523 U-2524 U-2525 U-2526 U-2527 U-2528 U-2529 U-2530 U-2531 U-2533 U-2534 U-2535 U-2536 U-2538 U-2539 U-2540 U-2541 U-2542 U-2543 U-2544 U-2545 U-2546 U-2548 U-2551 U-2552 U-3001 U-3002 U-3003 U-3004 U-3005 U-3006 U-3007 U-3008 U-3009 U-3010 U-3011 U-3012 U-3013 U-3014 U-3015 U-3016 U-3017 U-3018 U-3019 U-3020 U-3021 U-3022 U-3023 U-3024 U-3025 U-3026 U-3027 U-3028 U-3029 U-3030 U-3031 U-3032 U-3033 U-3034 U-3035 U-3037 U-3038 U-3039 U-3040 U-3041 U-3044 U-3501 U-3502 U-3503 U-3504 U-3505 U-3506 U-3507 U-3508 U-3509 U-3510 U-3511 U-3512 U-3513 U-3514 U-3515 U-3516 U-3517 U-3518 U-3519 U-3520 U-3521 U-3522 U-3523 U-3524 U-3525 U-3526 U-3527 U-3528 U-3529 U-3530

Preceded by: Type XVII Followed by: Type XXIII List of U-boats of Germany

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