U-255

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep, 1939

Laid down

21 Dec, 1940

Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 20)

Launched

8 Oct, 1941

Commissioned

29 Nov, 1941

Kptlt. Reinhart Reche (Knights Cross)

Commanders

29 Nov, 1941 - 6 Jun, 1943	Kptlt. Reinhart Reche (Knights Cross)
7 Jun, 1943 - Aug, 1944	Oblt. Erich Harms
2 Mar, 1945 - 19 May, 1945	Oblt. Helmuth Heinrich

Career

15 patrols

29 Nov, 1941 - 30 Jun, 1942  8. Flottille (training)
1 Jul, 1942 - 31 May, 1943  11. Flottille (front boat)
1 Jun, 1943 - 30 Nov, 1943  13. Flottille (front boat)
1 Dec, 1943 - 1 Sep, 1944  7. Flottille (front boat)
1 Mar, 1945 - 8 May, 1945  13. Flottille (-)

Successes

10 ships sunk for a total of 47.640 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 1.200 tons
1 ship a total loss for a total of 7.191 GRT

Fate

Transferred to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, then Loch Ryan on 14 May, 1945 for Operation Deadlight.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 13 Dec, 1945 in position 51.16N, 13.38W.

See the 12 ships hit by U-255 - View the 15 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

23 Sep, 1942
The U-boat was attacked by a Catalina aircraft (RAF Sqdn 210/U, F/Sgt J.W. Semmons) south of Jan Mayen. She had to return to base after being heavily damaged by two depth charges.

10 Mar, 1944
The boat located a big tanker convoy, CU 16, and went in for the attack. She was attacked by surface escorts but managed to sink the escort Leopold after which she was hunted for 3 hours but managed to slip away. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 503)

11 Mar, 1944
The boat was attacked by aircraft and 2 men were wounded. The boat continued its patrol after treating its wounded (a meeting with U-608 with a doctor on board did not succeed).

27 Mar, 1944
Unknown aircraft attacked the boat off Gibraltar as she attempted to enter the Mediterranean. The boat was forced to abort to France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 508)

11 Apr, 1944
The inbound (attacked by aircraft off Gibraltar on March 27) boat was caught on the surface with its escort by 15 British Mosquito aircraft. These were in turn attacked by German Ju-88 aircraft. The boat reached St. Nazaire with only minor damages. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 508)

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in September 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.