German submarine U-2521

History

Nazi Germany
Name:	U-2521
Ordered:	6 November 1943
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	2521
Laid down:	31 August 1944
Launched:	18 October 1944
Commissioned:	21 November 1944
Fate:	Sunk on 3 May 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:	Diesel/Electric 2 × MAN M6V40/46KBB supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engines 2 × SSW GU365/30 double-acting electric motors 2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors
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:	Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar Detector
Armament:	6 × bow torpedo tubes 23 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes (or 17 × torpedoes and 12 × TMC mines) 4 × 2 cm (0.8 in) AA guns or 4 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla (Training) 21 November 1944 – 3 May 1945
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Joachim Methner^[1] 21 November 1944 – 3 May 1945
Operations:	No patrols
Victories:	None

German submarine U-2521 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 31 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2521. She was launched on 18 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Joachim Methner, on 21 November 1944.^[2]

Design

Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2521 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).^[3] 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).^[3]

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).^[3] U-2521 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.^[3]

Fate

U-2521 was sunk on 3 May 1945, by rockets, in the Flensburg Fjord. U-2521 was attacked by a British Hawker Typhoon of 184 Squadron. Forty-four of the crew died in the attack with an unknown number of survivors.^[2]

The wreck is located at 54°49′N 09°50′E / 54.817°N 9.833°E / 54.817; 9.833Coordinates: 54°49′N 09°50′E / 54.817°N 9.833°E / 54.817; 9.833.^[2]

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Joachim Methner". Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-2521". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
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

"U-2521". Uboat.net. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

German Type XXI submarines

U-2501 U-2502 U-2503 U-2504 U-2505 U-2506 U-2507 U-2508 U-2509 U-2510 U-2511 U-2512 U-2513 U-2514 U-2515 U-2517 U-2518 U-2519 U-2520 U-2521 U-2522 U-2523 U-2524 U-2525 U-2526 U-2527 U-2528 U-2529 U-2530 U-2531 U-2533 U-2534 U-2535 U-2536 U-2538 U-2539 U-2540 U-2541 U-2542 U-2543 U-2544 U-2545 U-2546 U-2548 U-2551 U-2552 U-3001 U-3002 U-3003 U-3004 U-3005 U-3006 U-3007 U-3008 U-3009 U-3010 U-3011 U-3012 U-3013 U-3014 U-3015 U-3016 U-3017 U-3018 U-3019 U-3020 U-3021 U-3022 U-3023 U-3024 U-3025 U-3026 U-3027 U-3028 U-3029 U-3030 U-3031 U-3032 U-3033 U-3034 U-3035 U-3037 U-3038 U-3039 U-3040 U-3041 U-3044 U-3501 U-3502 U-3503 U-3504 U-3505 U-3506 U-3507 U-3508 U-3509 U-3510 U-3511 U-3512 U-3513 U-3514 U-3515 U-3516 U-3517 U-3518 U-3519 U-3520 U-3521 U-3522 U-3523 U-3524 U-3525 U-3526 U-3527 U-3528 U-3529 U-3530

Preceded by: Type XVII Followed by: Type XXIII List of U-boats of Germany

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