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German submarine U-2524

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-2524
Ordered6 November 1943
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number2524
Laid down6 September 1944
Launched30 October 1944
Commissioned16 January 1945
FateCrippled by air attack and scuttled, 3 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeType XXI submarine
Displacement
  • 1,621 t (1,595 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,819 t (1,790 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 60.50 m (198 ft 6 in) (p/h)
Beam
  • 8 m (26 ft 3 in) (o/a)
  • 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) (p/h)
Height11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Installed power
  • 4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) (diesel drive)
  • 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) (standard electric drive)
  • 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp) (silent electric drive)
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced:
  • 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) (diesel)
  • 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) (electric)
  • Submerged:
  • 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (electric)
  • 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) (silent running motors)
Range
  • 15,500 nmi (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth280 m (920 ft)
Complement57–60 crewmen
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 299
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ernst von Witzendorff[1]
  • 16 January – 3 May 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

German submarine U-2524 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the "Elektroboote") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 6 September 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2524. She was launched on 30 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Ernst von Witzendorff on 16 January 1945.[1]

Design

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Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2524 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).[2] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[2] U-2524 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.[2]

Service history and fate

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U-2524 was commissioned on 16 January 1945 and assigned to the 31st U-boat Flotilla at Hamburg for working up and training.[1] She had not completed this and had carried out no war patrols before being forced to flee the advancing Allied armies.

Sources vary as to her fate: Kemp and Tarrant report she was attacked on 3 May 1945 by Beaufighters from 236 and 254 Squadrons east of Samso and hit with rocket and cannon fire. Kemp states she was left burning and was seen to explode; Tarrant states she survived but was scuttled later.[3][4] However Niestle states simply that she was scuttled on 3 May 1945, in the Kattegat southeast of the island of Fehmarn.[5] One man was killed but the rest of the crew survived.[1]

The wreck is believed to be located at 54°26′N 11°39′E / 54.433°N 11.650°E / 54.433; 11.650.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2524". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 85.
  3. ^ Kemp p.257
  4. ^ Tarrant p.140
  5. ^ a b Niestle p. 161

Bibliography

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  • 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. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Paul Kemp (1997) U-Boats Destroyed. Arms & Armour Press ISBN 1 85409 515 3
  • Axel Niestle (1998) German U-Boat Losses during World War II. Greenhill Books ISBN 1 85367 352 8
  • VE Tarrant (1989) The U-boat Offensive 1914-1945. Arms & Armour Press ISBN 0-85368-928-8
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