German submarine U-2515

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-2515
Ordered: 6 November 1943
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number: 2515
Laid down: 28 July 1944
Launched: 22 September 1944
Commissioned: 19 October 1944
Fate: Sunk on 17 January 1945
General characteristics
Class and type: Type 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)
Height: 11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught: 6.32 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 depth: 280 m (920 ft)
Complement: 57—60 crewmen
Sensors and
processing systems:
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Rolf Borchers(Building Instructor)[1]
  • July 1944 – September 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Gerhard Linder[2]
  • 19 October 1944 – 3 December 1944
Operations: No patrols
Victories: None

German submarine U-2515 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 28 July 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2515. She was launched on 22 September 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Linder, on 19 October 1944.[3]

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2515 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 length of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught length of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] U-2515 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.8 in) anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.[4]

Fate

U-2515 was damaged in December 1944, by a naval mine, in the Baltic Sea. She was sunk by bombs in Dock 111 in Hamburg on 17 January 1945, while damaged sections from the mine were being replaced. The wreck was later raised and broken up.[3]

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Rolf Borchers". Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gerhard Linder". Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2515". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 85.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) 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 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 

External links

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