U-256
Type | VIIC | |||||||
| Ordered | 23 Dec, 1939 | |||||||
| Laid down | 15 Feb, 1941 | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 21) | ||||||
| Launched | 28 Oct, 1941 | |||||||
| Commissioned | 18 Dec, 1941 | Oblt. Odo Loewe | ||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 5 patrols | 18 Dec, 1941 - 31 Jul, 1942 8. Flottille (training) 1 Aug, 1942 - 5 Oct, 1944 9. Flottille (front boat) | ||||||
| Successes | 1 warship sunk for a total of 1.300 tons | |||||||
| Fate | Heavily damaged on 31 August, 1942 and stricken in November 1942. Converted to U-Flak 2 in May, 1943, second time in commission on 16 August, 1943. From December 1943 again a regular combat boat U-256. Left her base in Brest, France on 4 September 1944 for Norway. Stricken on 23 October, 1944 in Bergen, Norway. Captured there and cannibalized. Broken up later. | |||||||
See the 1 ships hit by U-256 - View the 5 war patrols
Wolfpack operations
U-256 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Lachs (15 Aug, 1942 - 27 Sep, 1942)
Attacks on this boat
25 Aug, 1942
The U-boat tried to attack the convoy ON-122 but was damaged by depth charges from HNoMS Potentilla (K 214) and HMS Viscount (D 92). (Sources: Kenneth Wynn)
2 Sep, 1942
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Whitley Z9515 (77 Sqdn RAF/H, pilot P/O A. Cassie)
At 08.30 hours, the inbound boat was attacked by the Whitley (misidentified as Wellington) in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft strafed the boat and dropped 2 or 3 bombs that fell about 15 metres astern. The Germans observed AA hits in the cockpit area and saw the Whitley flying away very low with a smoke trail. Its crew sent a SOS and probably ditched, but the 5 men crew was lost. U-256 was badly damaged in the attack and limped into Lorient the next day, some damages found on deck were apparently caused by the propeller of the aircraft.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)11 Mar, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:Canadian Wellington (Sqdn 407/H)
The aircraft seems to have crashed on its own during preparations for the attack run.
19 Mar, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 224/F). The aircraft smashed into the sea 500m away from the boat and exploded.
7 Jun, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 224/M).
5 recorded attacks on this boat.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in June 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-256 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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