List of all U-boats

U-251

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered23 Sep 1939
Laid down18 Oct 1940 Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 16)
Launched26 Jul 1941
Commissioned20 Sep 1941Kptlt. Heinrich Timm (Knights Cross)
Commanders
20 Sep 1941 - 1 Sep 1943  Kptlt. Heinrich Timm (Knights Cross)
23 Nov 1943 - 19 Apr 1945  Oblt. Franz Säck
Career
10 patrols
20 Sep 1941-30 Apr 1942  6. Flottille (training)
1 May 1942-30 Jun 1942  6. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1942-31 May 1943  11. Flottille (active service)
1 Jun 1943-30 Jun 1943  13. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1943-30 Nov 1943  24. Flottille (training)
1 Dec 1943-28 Feb 1945  21. Flottille (trial boat)
1 Mar 1945-19 Apr 1945  31. Flottille (training)
Successes2 ships sunk, total tonnage 11,408 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 19 April 1945 in the Kattegat west of Halmstad, Sweden, in position 56.37N, 11.51E, by rockets and strafing from eight British and Norwegian Mosquito aircraft (235, 248 & 143 Sqn RAF). 39 dead and 4 survivors.

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-251 - View the 10 war patrols

This boat is a dive site

This boat was recently found and is now a regularly dived site. She lies at roughly 32 meter depth and has been dived onto since at least August 1993.

Her location is 57.37N, 11.51E or just southeast of the Danish island of Læsø and south of the Swedish city of Göteborg.

Depth: 100 feet (30 meters)
Position (lat, long): 56.37, 11.51

See more U-boat dive sites.

Wolfpack operations

U-251 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Strauchritter (29 Apr 1942 - 5 May 1942)
   Eisteufel (21 Jun 1942 - 12 Jul 1942)
   Eisbär (27 Mar 1943 - 15 Apr 1943)

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in April 1945 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-251 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 2 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


The Polar Bear - 11th Flotilla

Chimneysweeper with Torpedo

Media links


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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