German submarineU-2511

German submarineU-2511was aType XXI submarineof Nazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.TheElektrobootsubmarine was laid down on 7 July 1944 at theBlohm & Vossyard atHamburg,launched on 2 September 1944, and commissioned on 29 September 1944 under the command ofKapitänleutnantAdalbert Schnee.

U-2511(center) inBergen,Norway
History
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	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Bergen Sunk inOperation Deadlighton 7 January 1946 at 7:40 pm
General characteristics
Class and type	Type XXI submarine
Displacement	1,621t(1,595long 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 ×MANM6V40/46KBBsupercharged6-cylinderdiesel engines,4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) 2 ×SSWGU365/30double-acting electric motors,5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) 2 ×SSWGV232/28 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 3BaliRadar Detector
Armament	6 × bowtorpedo tubes 23 × 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedoes or 17 × torpedoes and 12 ×mines 4 ×2 cm (0.79 in) C/30AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 29 September 1944 – 14 March 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 15 March – 8 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 45 912
Commanders:	Kptlt./K.Kapt.Adalbert Schnee 29 September 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	1 patrol: 3 – 6 May 1945
Victories:	None

Design

Like allType XXI submarines,U-2511had 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 of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).The submarine was powered by twoMAN SEsupercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000metric horsepower(2,900kilowatts;3,900shaft horsepower), twoSiemens-SchuckertGU365/30double-actingelectric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckertsilent runningGV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).

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).U-2511was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in)torpedo tubesin the bow and four2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns.She could carry 23torpedoesor 17 torpedoes and 12naval mine.Thecomplementwas five officers and 52 men.

Service history

After training with31st U-boat Flotilla,U-2511was transferred to11th U-boat FlotillaatBergen,Norway, for front-line service on 15 March 1945.

U-2511conducted one patrol. On the evening of 30 April 1945 (coincidentally the date of Hitler's death),U-2511set out from Bergen, Norway for the Caribbean, but on 4 May Schnee received the end-of-the-war cease-fire order.The commander ofU-2511claimed the U-boat had a British cruiser in her sights on 4 May when news of the German cease-fire was received. He further claimed she made a practice attack before leaving the scene undetected.

Fate

On 17 June 1945,U-2511was transferred from Bergen, and arrived atLondonderry Porton 21 June forOperation Deadlight.The U-boat was sunk on 7 January 1946 at 7:40 pm in position55°33′N07°38′W.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',revealing she is largely intact except for a large blast hole caused by the shellfire that sank her.

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.ISBN1-55750-186-6.
• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
• Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991).U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN0-85177-593-4.
• Bekker, Cajus (1953).Kampf und Untergang der Kriegsmarine.Düsseldorf.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Heinz Schaeffer.U-977.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type XXI boat U-2511".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved6 December2014.
• Researched scale model representation ofU-2511