German submarineU-2503

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2503
Ordered	6 November 1943
Builder	Blohm & Voss,Hamburg
Yard number	2503
Laid down	2 May 1944
Launched	29 June 1944
Commissioned	1 August 1944
Fate	Scuttled on 4 May 1945
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(or17 × torpedoes and 12 ×mines) 4 ×2 cm (0.79 in) C/30AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1944 – 1 April 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 April – 4 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 41 704
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S.Raimund Tiesler 1 August – 25 October 1944 Kptlt.Richard Becker 26 October – 11 November 1944 Kptlt.Karl-Jürg Wächter 12 November 1944 – 4 May 1945
Operations:	None
Victories:	None

German submarineU-2503was aType XXIU-boat(one of the "Elektroboote") ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine,built for service inWorld War II.She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and waslaid downon 2 May 1944 at theBlohm & Voss,Hamburg,as yard number 2503. She waslaunchedon 29 June 1944, andcommissionedunder the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeRaimund Tiesler on 1 August 1944.

Design

Like allType XXIU-boats,U-2503had 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-2503was 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 twenty-threetorpedoesor seventeen torpedoes and twelvemines.Thecomplementwas five officers and fifty-two men.

Fate

On 3 May 1945, while on her way to Norway,U-2503was in theGreat Belt,near theÖmo Light Tower,when she was caught and attacked on the surface byRoyal Air Force(RAF)Bristol Beaufightersof236 Squadronand254 Squadron,part of theBanff Strike Wing.U-2503was struck in the area of theconning towerby at least one rocket, which caused severe damage and killed several crewmen andKapitänleutnantKarl-Jürg Wächter.U-2503,burning badly, was beached off of Omø, with 13 dead and an unknown number of survivors. The remaining crew landed ashore andscuttledthe boat with explosives the next day.

U-2503's location when scuttled,55°09′N11°08′E.

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.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type XXI boat U-2503".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved20 April2016.