U-260

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Dec 1939

Laid down

7 May 1941

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 25)

Launched

9 Feb 1942

Commissioned

14 Mar 1942

Oblt. Hubertus Purkhold

Commanders

14 Mar 1942	-	Apr, 1944		Kptlt. Hubertus Purkhold (German Cross in Gold)
Apr, 1944	-	12 Mar 1945		Oblt. Klaus Becker

Career
9 patrols

14 Mar 1942	-	30 Sep 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942	-	31 Oct 1944	6. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1944	-	12 Mar 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 4,893 GRT

Fate

Scuttled at 2230hrs on 12 March 1945 in the Celtic Sea south of Ireland, in approx. position 51.29N, 09.06W, after being badly damaged earlier that day by a mine in the British field CF A at 80m depth in position 51.15N, 09.05W. Entire crew interned in Ireland. 48 survivors (no casualties).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-260 - View the 9 war patrols

This boat is a dive site

Discovered in 1985 by Colin Barnes it has become known as the Glandore sub. The boat lies at about 150 feet (44m) depth. The boat is only 2 miles off the village of Union Hall in Southern Ireland. This boat is regularly dived onto and it completely intact. A torpedo is right next to the hull on the ocean floor.

Depth: 150 feet (46 meters)
Position (lat, long): 51.15, -9.50

See more U-boat dive sites.

Wolfpack operations

U-260 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Blitz (22 Sep 1942 - 26 Sep 1942)
   Tiger (26 Sep 1942 - 30 Sep 1942)
   Luchs (1 Oct 1942 - 6 Oct 1942)
   Panther (6 Oct 1942 - 11 Oct 1942)
   Südwärts (24 Oct 1942 - 26 Oct 1942)
   Spitz (22 Dec 1942 - 31 Dec 1942)
   Seeteufel (21 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Löwenherz (1 Apr 1943 - 10 Apr 1943)
   Lerche (10 Apr 1943 - 15 Apr 1943)
   Specht (21 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 7 Oct 1943)
   Rügen 6 (28 Dec 1943 - 2 Jan 1944)
   Rügen 5 (2 Jan 1944 - 7 Jan 1944)
   Rügen (7 Jan 1944 - 11 Jan 1944)

General notes on this boat

You can see some gallery photos of U-260 here.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 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-260 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.