German submarine U-260
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-260 |
| Ordered | 23 December 1939 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 25 |
| Laid down | 7 May 1941 |
| Launched | 9 February 1942 |
| Commissioned | 14 March 1942 |
| Fate | Scuttled, 12 March 1945[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
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| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[2][3] | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 1 commercial ship sunk (4,893 GRT) |
German submarine U-260 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down 7 May 1941 by Bremer Vulkan, of Bremen-Vegesack. She was commissioned 14 March 1942 with Kapitänleutnant Herbertus Purkhold in command.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-260 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-260 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
Service history
U-260 conducted nine patrols in total. On her second, U-260 was part of Spitz wolfpack[5] which attacked Convoy ON-154, making contact with the convoy on 28 December 1942, and sinking the 4,893 ton British freighter Empire Wagtail (lost with all hands – 43 dead).[6] This was the only ship sunk by U-260.
Purkhold was relieved in April 1944 by Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Becker. Becker commanded the boat until March 1945.
On 12 March 1945, U-260 was scuttled south of neutral Ireland, in position 51°15′N 09°05′W / 51.250°N 9.083°W, after sustaining mine damage. The minefield had been laid by HMS Apollo, an Template:Sclass-.
After the sinking, a sealed container of papers floated to the surface. A British expert flew to Cork to examine them.[7]
The crew of five officers and 48 crew were interned in Ireland for the remainder of the war. In her entire career, U-260 suffered no casualties to her crew.
Post war
The wreck site of U-260 was discovered in 1975 by local fisherman Colin Barnes after snagging nets, although it was presumed that the wreck of Counsellor (sunk due to a mine in 1917) was in the area. A friend of Mr Barnes, Joe Barry, dived on the noted position and discovered the U-boat rather than the expected cargo ship.
U-260 currently lies in about 40–45 metres (131–148 ft) of water approximately seven kilometres 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.
On 1 July 2014, two divers got into trouble whilst exploring the wreck, the bodies of both of them were later recovered.
Wolfpacks
U-260 took part in 16 wolfpacks, namely.
- Blitz (22–26 September 1942)
- Tiger (26–30 September 1942)
- Luchs (1–6 October 1942)
- Panther (6–11 October 1942)
- Südwärts (24–26 October 1942)
- Spitz (22–31 December 1942)
- Seeteufel (21–30 March 1943)
- Löwenherz (1–10 April 1943)
- Lerche (10–15 April 1943)
- Specht (21 April – 4 May 1943)
- Fink (4–6 May 1943)
- Leuthen (15–24 September 1943)
- Rossbach (24 September – 7 October 1943)
- Rügen 6 (28 December 1943 – 2 January 1944)
- Rügen 5 (2–7 January 1944)
- Rügen (7–11 January 1944)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 December 1942 | Empire Wagtail |  United Kingdom
|
4,893 | Sunk |
References
- ^ Kemp 1999, p. 237.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-260". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-260". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen 1992 p.183
- ^ Hague 2000 p.135
- ^ Bourke, Edward. Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast. Vol. 2. p. 197. ISBN 0952302713.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-260". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
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.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. pp. 136, 137, 176, 217. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|last-author-amp=(help) - Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-019-3.
- Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
- Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-260". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 260". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Gordon Mumford's account of Convoy ONS-154
- Silent Waters Running Deep - Irish Television production on U-260 (pages include copyright underwater pictures of the wreck)
- Dive review and further history (appeared in Diver Magazine July 1997)
- Irish Wrecks Online entry for U-260
- U-260 dive review
