Patrol info for U-256
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 25 Jan 1944 | Brest | 22 Mar 1944 | Brest | 58 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Oblt. Wilhelm Brauel |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-256
We have daily positions for all 58 days on this patrol.
Departure from Brest on 25 Jan 1944.
26 Jan 1944 - 27 Jan 1944 - 28 Jan 1944 - 29 Jan 1944 - 30 Jan 1944 - 31 Jan 1944 - 1 Feb 1944 - 2 Feb 1944 - 3 Feb 1944 - 4 Feb 1944 - 5 Feb 1944 - 6 Feb 1944 - 7 Feb 1944 - 8 Feb 1944 - 9 Feb 1944 - 10 Feb 1944 - 11 Feb 1944 - 12 Feb 1944 - 13 Feb 1944 - 14 Feb 1944 - 15 Feb 1944 - 16 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944 - 18 Feb 1944 - 19 Feb 1944 - 20 Feb 1944 - 21 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944 - 23 Feb 1944 - 24 Feb 1944 - 25 Feb 1944 - 26 Feb 1944 - 27 Feb 1944 - 28 Feb 1944 - 29 Feb 1944 - 1 Mar 1944 - 2 Mar 1944 - 3 Mar 1944 - 4 Mar 1944 - 5 Mar 1944 - 6 Mar 1944 - 7 Mar 1944 - 8 Mar 1944 - 9 Mar 1944 - 10 Mar 1944 - 11 Mar 1944 - 12 Mar 1944 - 13 Mar 1944 - 14 Mar 1944 - 15 Mar 1944 - 16 Mar 1944 - 17 Mar 1944 - 18 Mar 1944 - 19 Mar 1944 - 20 Mar 1944 - 21 Mar 1944 -
Arrival at Brest on 22 Mar 1944.
Wolfpack operations during this patrol
U-256 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 13 Mar 1944)
Ships hit by U-256 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | Map | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb 1944 | U-256 | Wilhelm Brauel |  | HMS Woodpecker (U 08) | 1,300 |  | br | ON-224 | A |
| 1,300 | |||||||||
1 ship sunk (1,300 tons). Legend | |||||||||
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-256 during this patrol
11 Mar 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft crashed:
Canadian Wellington HF311 (407 Sqn RCAF/H, pilot P/O E.M. O’Donnell)
21.48 hrs, mid Atlantic: the boat saw an aircraft crash into the sea close by. U-256 had not fired at the aircraft, which apparently crashed due to pilot error while preparing for a low level attack. All six aircrew were lost.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)19 Mar 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
British B-24 Liberator (224 Sqn RAF/F, pilot F/L R. Dunn)
23.12 hrs, Bay of Biscay, inbound: the boat was illuminated by Leigh Light and strafed by the Liberator. The Germans observed hits to the right wing from the 20mm AA guns and to the fuselage from the 37mm AA gun. Flames were seen coming from the bomb bay and one of the engines as the aircraft passed astern of U-256 at a height of 50m (55 yards), dropping six depth charges, and then crashed into the sea 500m (547 yards) away, killing the crew of ten. The boat was not damaged in the attack.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.
See all patrols for U-256
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.