German World War II submarine
German submarine "U-256 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" during World War II, she also served for a short time as an anti-aircraft submarine under the designation U-flak 2". During her career, "U-256" completed five wartime patrols and sank one warship of 1,300 tons.
The submarine was laid down on 15 February 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 21. She was launched on 28 October and commissioned on 18 December under the command of "Oberleutnant zur See" Odo Loewe.
"U-256" was assigned to the 8th U-Boat Flotilla for training, then transferred to the 9th U-boat Flotilla for operational service.
Design.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. "U-256" had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . "U-256" was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history.
First patrol.
"U-256"'s first patrol began on 28 July 1942 during her transfer from Kiel, Germany to the "9. Unterseebootsflottille" at Brest in occupied France.
During the patrol, "U-256" unsuccessfully pursued Convoy SC 94, and early on 25 August was detected by the radar of the Norwegian astern of convoy ON 122. The U-boat crash-dived when illuminated by star shells, the corvette attacked with depth charges. The boat eventually made her escape when the corvette was obliged to return to convoy protection duties, but the submarine was damaged enough to have to abort the patrol.
On the return journey, on the morning of 2 September, the U-boat was attacked by a British Whitley bomber of No. 77 Squadron RAF in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft strafed and dropped several bombs, but the U-boat's flak hit the aircraft and it crashed into the sea. "U-256" limped into Lorient the next day, due to the extensive damage from the two attacks, she was withdrawn from service in November 1942.
Second patrol.
During an overhaul which included extensive repairs, "U-256" was converted to a "Flakboot" (Flak boat) in May 1943. One of just four U-boats so modified, she was given an increased complement of anti-aircraft guns, to give her and other German submarines a better chance of fighting off enemy aircraft. "U-256" was re-commissioned as "U-flak 2" on 16 August 1943.
The boat's second wartime patrol started on 4 October under the command of "Oblt.z.S." Wilhelm Brauel; her mission was to rendezvous with and protect , a "Milchkuh" ('Milk cow' or re-supply U-boat). Such submarines could re-supply multiple U-boats at sea, and were consequently the prime target of Allied aircraft trying to disrupt U-boat activities.
On 8 October, the outbound boat was attacked by a Leigh light-equipped British Wellington bomber of No. 612 Squadron RAF in the Bay of Biscay. "U-256" was not damaged by the six depth charges that straddled her, and escaped by crash-diving. "U-256"'s return fire had hit the starboard elevator and rear turret of the aircraft, but it returned safely to base.
"U-flak 2" was caught on the surface by the American destroyer USS "Borie" on 31 October. The U-boat escaped, but with minor depth charge damage.
On 16 November the inbound boat encountered a Halifax Mk.II aircraft of No. 502 Squadron RAF in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft was damaged by flak and turned away. When the Halifax returned to the area, the U-boat had already escaped by crash-diving.
"U-flak 2" returned to her base at Brest on 17 November. The Flak conversion was not considered a success, "U-flak 2" was converted back to her original configuration in the winter of 1943–44 and renamed "U-256".
Third patrol.
"U-256"'s third patrol started on 25 January 1944. She steamed west and southwest of Ireland and on 20 February damaged the anti-submarine sloop, which later sank while under tow. On 19 March, inbound in the Bay of Biscay, the U-boat was strafed by a Leigh light-equipped British Liberator of 224 Squadron. The Germans observed hits from their 20 mm and 37 mm AA guns, before the aircraft dropped six depth charges, then crashed 500 meters away. The boat was not damaged in the attack, and returned to Brest on the 22nd.
Fourth patrol.
"U-256" sailed from Brest on 6 June 1944 "(D-Day)", but was seriously damaged when attacked by another Liberator, also of 224 Squadron the next day, and returned to Brest on the eighth.
Fifth patrol.
On 4 September 1944, under the command of "Korvettenkapitän" Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock, "U-256" became the last U-boat to leave Brest before the port was captured by the Allies. The transit from Brest to Bergen in Norway, would be "U-256"'s last patrol. She reached her destination on 17 October, and was decommissioned there on 23 October.
Wolfpacks.
"U-256" took part in five wolfpacks, namely:
References.
Notes.
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