German submarine U-2511
 U-2511 (center) in Bergen, Norway | |
| History | |
|---|---|
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany | |
| Name: | U-2511 |
| Ordered: | 6 November 1943 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 2511 |
| Laid down: | 7 July 1944 |
| Launched: | 2 September 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 29 September 1944 |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type XXI submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| 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: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 240 m (790 ft) |
| Complement: | 5 officers, 52 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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| Service record[1][2] | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-2511 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The Elektroboot submarine was laid down on 7 July 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 2 September 1944, and commissioned on 29 September 1944 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Adalbert Schnee.[1]
Design
Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2511 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-2511 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]
Service history
After training with 31st U-boat Flotilla, U-2511 was transferred to 11th U-boat Flotilla at Bergen, Norway, for front-line service on 15 March 1945.[1]
U-2511 conducted one patrol. On the evening of 30 April 1945 (coincidentally the date of Hitler's death), U-2511 set out from Bergen, Norway for the Caribbean, but on 4 May Schnee received the end-of-the-war cease-fire order.[1]
Fate
On 14 June 1945 U-2511 was transferred from Bergen, and arrived at Lisahally, Northern Ireland on 21 June for Operation Deadlight. The U-boat was scuttled on 7 January 1946 at 7:40 pm in position 55°33′N 07°38′W / 55.550°N 7.633°WCoordinates: 55°33′N 07°38′W / 55.550°N 7.633°W.[1] She was sunk by gunfire after her towing cable parted.
The wreck lies at a depth 69 metres (226 ft). She had been visited by divers at least three times, in 1999 and 2001, and circa 2012 for 'Dig WW2 with Dan Snow',[5] revealing she is largely intact except for a large blast hole caused by the shellfire that sank her.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXI boat U-2511". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-2511". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Adalbart Schnee (Knight's Cross)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 85.
- ↑ "Dig WW2 with Dan Snow". Dig WW2 with Dan Snow. Episode 3. 2012-08-29. BBC. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
- ↑ Innes McCartney. "Day Two: 15th July 2001". Operation Deadlight 2002 Expedition. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 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.
- Bekker, Cajus (1953). Kampf und Untergang der Kriegsmarine. Düsseldorf.
- Heinz Schaeffer. U-977.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XXI boat U-2511". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- Researched scale model representation of U-2511
- New U-Boats
