German submarine U-2502

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.

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 and an M-class minsweeper escort in the Kattegat by 22 Mosquitos of the Banff Strike Wing. U-2502 received only slight damage, but a type VIIC submarine was sunk, a type XXIII 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: Surrendered 9 May 1945 at Horten Naval Base, Norway
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:
  • Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter
  • FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar Detector
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 – 8 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

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 (0.79 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.[4]

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.

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References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gert Mannesmann (German Cross in Gold)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans Hornkohl". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinz Franke (Knight's Cross)". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  4. Gröner 1991, p. 85.

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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.

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