German submarine U-256
| History | |
|---|---|
| Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-256 |
| Ordered | 23 December 1939 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 21 |
| Laid down | 15 February 1941 |
| Launched | 28 October 1941 |
| Commissioned | 18 December 1941 |
| Stricken | November 1942 |
| Notes | Converted to a Flak boat, May 1943 |
| Recommissioned | 16 August 1943 |
| Stricken | 23 October 1944 |
| Fate | Captured in May 1945 at Bergen, Norway, and broken up |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 47 855 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: |
1 warship sunk (1,300 tons) |
German submarine U-256 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II, she also served for a short time as an anti-aircraft submarine under the designation U-flak 2. During her career, U-256 completed five wartime patrols and sank one warship of 1,300 tons.
The submarine was laid down on 15 February 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 21. She was launched on 28 October and commissioned on 18 December under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Odo Loewe.
U-256 was assigned to the 8th U-Boat Flotilla for training, then transferred to the 9th U-boat Flotilla for operational service.