Patrol info for U-256
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 25 Jan 1944 | Brest | 22 Mar 1944 | Brest | 58 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Oblt. Wilhelm Brauel |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-256
Legend
means a ship hit (sunk or damaged).
indicates an Allied attack on the boat.
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We have daily positions for all 58 days on this patrol.
Departure from Brest on 25 Jan 1944.
26 Jan 1944 - 27 Jan 1944 - 28 Jan 1944 - 29 Jan 1944 - 30 Jan 1944 - 31 Jan 1944 - 1 Feb 1944 - 2 Feb 1944 - 3 Feb 1944 - 4 Feb 1944 - 5 Feb 1944 - 6 Feb 1944 - 7 Feb 1944 - 8 Feb 1944 - 9 Feb 1944 - 10 Feb 1944 - 11 Feb 1944 - 12 Feb 1944 - 13 Feb 1944 - 14 Feb 1944 - 15 Feb 1944 - 16 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944 - 18 Feb 1944 - 19 Feb 1944 - 20 Feb 1944 - 21 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944 - 23 Feb 1944 - 24 Feb 1944 - 25 Feb 1944 - 26 Feb 1944 - 27 Feb 1944 - 28 Feb 1944 - 29 Feb 1944 - 1 Mar 1944 - 2 Mar 1944 - 3 Mar 1944 - 4 Mar 1944 - 5 Mar 1944 - 6 Mar 1944 - 7 Mar 1944 - 8 Mar 1944 - 9 Mar 1944 - 10 Mar 1944 - 11 Mar 1944 - 12 Mar 1944 - 13 Mar 1944 - 14 Mar 1944 - 15 Mar 1944 - 16 Mar 1944 - 17 Mar 1944 - 18 Mar 1944 - 19 Mar 1944 - 20 Mar 1944 - 21 Mar 1944 -
Arrival at Brest on 22 Mar 1944.
Wolfpack operations during this patrol
U-256 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 13 Mar 1944)
Ships hit by U-256 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb 1944 | U-256 | Wilhelm Brauel |  | HMS Woodpecker (U 08) | 1,300 |  | br | ON-224 |
| 1,300 | ||||||||
1 ship sunk (1,300 tons). Legend | ||||||||
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-256 during this patrol
11 Mar 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
Canadian Wellington HF311 (407 Sqdn RCAF/H, pilot P/O E.M. O’Donnell)
At 21.48 hours, the boat witnessed an aircraft crashing into the sea close to her. The Germans had not fired at the aircraft, which apparently crashed on its own during preparations for the low attack run. All six crewmen were lost.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)19 Mar 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
British Liberator (224 Sqdn RAF/F, pilot F/L R. Dunn)
At 23.12 hours, the inbound boat was illuminated by Leigh Light and strafed by the Liberator in the Bay of Biscay. The Germans observed hits in the right wing from the 20mm AA guns and the fuselage from the 37mm AA gun. Flames were seen coming from the bomb bay and one of the engines when the aircraft passed at the height of 50 meters behind U-256, dropped six depth charges and crashed into the sea 500 meters away, killing all 10 crewmen. The boat was not damaged in the attack.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.
See all patrols for U-256
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.
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