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

18 Dec, 1941 - 30 Nov, 1942	Kptlt. Odo Loewe
16 Aug, 1943 - 27 Jun, 1944	Wilhelm Brauel
2 Sep, 1944 - 18 Oct, 1944	KrvKpt. Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (Knights Cross)

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.