U-259 sank no ships in her short career, and was sunk off North Africa on 15 November 1942, during her second combat patrol, by a British Hudson bomber.[2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-259 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 superchargeddiesel 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-259 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/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
Service history
First patrol
U-259 sailed from Kiel on 29 August 1942, and headed out into the mid-Atlantic, joining WolfpackLohs from 3 to 22 September, and Wolfpack Blitz from 22 to 25 September, but had no success. The U-boat arrived at La Pallice on 5 October after 38 days at sea.[5]
Second patrol
U-259 departed La Pallice on 5 November 1942 as part of Wolfpack Delphin, entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, and joined Wolfpack Wal on 12 November.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-259 from 29 August 1942 to 5 October 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-259 from 5 Nov 1942 to 15 Nov 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. ISBN3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. ISBN0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN1-85409-515-3.
Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. London: Amber Books. ISBN978-1-904687-96-2.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-259". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 259". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, submarine, laid, down, march, 1941, bremer, vulkan, yard, bremen, vegesack, launched, december, 1941, commissioned, february, 1942, under, command, kapitänleutnant, klaus, köpke, . German submarine U 259 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II The submarine was laid down on 25 March 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen Vegesack launched on 30 December 1941 and commissioned on 18 February 1942 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Klaus Kopke After training with the 5th U boat Flotilla at Kiel U 259 was transferred to the 3rd U boat Flotilla based at La Pallice France for front line service from 1 September 1942 HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 259Ordered23 December 1939BuilderBremer Vulkan Bremen VegesackYard number24Laid down25 March 1941Launched30 December 1941Commissioned18 February 1942FateSunk 15 November 1942 1 General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 500 nmi 15 700 km 9 800 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 80 nmi 150 km 92 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes 4 bow 1 stern 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService record 2 3 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 18 February 31 August 1942 3rd U boat Flotilla 1 September 15 November 1942Commanders Kptlt Klaus Kopke 18 February 1942 15 November 1942Operations 2 patrols 1st patrol 29 August 5 October 1942 2nd patrol 5 15 November 1942Victories NoneU 259 sank no ships in her short career and was sunk off North Africa on 15 November 1942 during her second combat patrol by a British Hudson bomber 2 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 First patrol 2 2 Second patrol 2 3 Sinking 2 4 Wolfpacks 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 259 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 259 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 EditFirst patrol Edit U 259 sailed from Kiel on 29 August 1942 and headed out into the mid Atlantic joining Wolfpack Lohs from 3 to 22 September and Wolfpack Blitz from 22 to 25 September but had no success The U boat arrived at La Pallice on 5 October after 38 days at sea 5 Second patrol Edit U 259 departed La Pallice on 5 November 1942 as part of Wolfpack Delphin entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar and joined Wolfpack Wal on 12 November Sinking Edit On 15 November the U boat was attacked by a British Hudson light bomber of No 500 Squadron RAF north of Algiers in position 37 20 N 3 5 E 37 333 N 3 083 E 37 333 3 083 U 259 was sunk with all 48 hands when one of the depth charges dropped by the aircraft exploded on contact with the U boat The blast also crippled the aircraft forcing the crew to bail out Only the pilot and one crewman were rescued by the British sloops HMS Erne and HMS Leith 2 6 Wolfpacks Edit U 259 took part in four wolfpacks namely Lohs 13 22 September 1942 Blitz 22 25 September 1942 Delphin 5 12 November 1942 Wal 12 15 November 1942 See also EditMediterranean U boat Campaign World War II References Edit Kemp 1999 p 96 a b c Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 259 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 2 April 2010 Helgason Gudmundur War Patrols by German U boat U 259 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 2 April 2010 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Patrol of U boat U 259 from 29 August 1942 to 5 October 1942 U boat patrols uboat net Retrieved 2 April 2010 Helgason Gudmundur Patrol of U boat U 259 from 5 Nov 1942 to 15 Nov 1942 U boat patrols uboat net Retrieved 2 April 2010 Bibliography EditBusch Rainer Roll 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 Busch Rainer Roll Hans Joachim 1999 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels ISBN 0 85177 593 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Kemp Paul 1999 U Boats Destroyed German Submarine Losses in the World Wars London Arms amp Armour ISBN 1 85409 515 3 Bishop Chris 2006 Kriegsmarine U Boats 1939 45 London Amber Books ISBN 978 1 904687 96 2 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 259 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 26 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 259 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 26 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 259 amp oldid 1162234249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
