List of all U-boats

U-253

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered23 Sep 1939
Laid down15 Nov 1940 Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 18)
Launched30 Aug 1941
Commissioned21 Oct 1941Oblt. Adolf Friedrichs
Commanders
21 Oct 1941 - 25 Sep 1942  Kptlt. Adolf Friedrichs
Career
1 patrol
21 Oct 1941-31 Aug 1942  8. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942-25 Sep 1942  6. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 25 September 1942 in the Denmark Strait north-west of Iceland, in approx. position 67.00N, 23.00W, by a British mine. 45 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, December 1979).

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

U-253 reported for the last time on 24 September 1942 from the approximate position 67.30N, 21.00W while operating against convoy QP-14. The next day it was ordered to head to a new patrol area southeast of Cape Farewell through the Denmark Strait and was reported missing thereafter.

There is a strong possibility that the boat was lost to a mine in the anti-submarine minefields SN 11 or SN 71A north-west of Iceland on 25 September. These barrages were laid on 1 June and 21 August 1942 and crossed U-253's route into the North Atlantic.

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk by Catalina (Sqdn 210/U) on 23 Sep 1942. (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. The aircraft in fact attacked U-255 which escaped relatively unharmed.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-253 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Man with Stick

Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


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

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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