U-262

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

29 May 1941

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 27)

Launched

10 Mar 1942

Commissioned

15 Apr 1942

Kptlt. Günther Schiebusch

Commanders

15 Apr 1942 - 26 Oct 1942	Günter Schiebusch
Sep, 1942 - Oct, 1942	Oblt. Siegfried Atzinger
26 Oct 1942 - 25 Jan 1944	Kptlt. Heinz Franke (Knights Cross)
25 Jan 1944 - 24 Nov 1944	Oblt. Helmut Wieduwilt
25 Nov 1944 - 2 Apr 1945	Kptlt. Karl-Heinz Laudahn

Career

10 patrols

15 Apr 1942 - 30 Sep 1942  5. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942 - 9 Nov 1944  3. Flottille (front boat)
10 Nov 1944 - 2 Apr 1945  33. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

3 ships sunk for a total of 13,010 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 925 tons

Fate

Bombed at Gotenhafen in December 1944. Stricken at Kiel on 2 April, 1945. Broken up in 1947.

See the 4 ships hit by U-262 - View the 10 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-262 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Drachen (25 Nov 1942 - 7 Dec 1942)
   Landknecht (22 Jan 1943 - 28 Jan 1943)
   Pfeil (2 Feb 1943 - 9 Feb 1943)

Attacks on this boat

15 Apr 1943
While shadowing convoy HX 233 the boat was attacked by depth charges and gunfire from its escorts. The boat was enroute to Prince Edward Island to pick up German POW's that were to escape from their camp (Operation Elster). The boat broke off from the convoy and finished her mission but no POW showed up. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 226)

8 Aug 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American Avenger (VC-1 USN, pilot Lt(jg) A.H. Sallenger)

In the morning U-262 was awaiting refuelling from U-664 while U-760 was being supplied in bad weather. At 10.11 hours, an Avenger/Wildcat team from USS Card located the boats and attacked U-262. The Wildcat strafed her while the Avenger tried to attack with depth charges, but an AA hit in the bomb bay caused the ordnance to hung up and put the radio out of commission. Making a second run, the Avenger was hit again by AA fire and a fuel tank in the starboard wing caught fire. The two manually dropped depth charges severely damaged U-262, but the pilot had to jettison the Fido homing torpedo and ditched the burning aircraft. The radioman went down with the Avenger, while the pilot and the gunner were picked up in the afternoon by USS Barry after being spotted by other aircraft from the escort carrier. The Wildcat was also shot down by the boat during another strafing run and crashed into the sea, killing its pilot. U-262 had to abort her patrol due to the damages. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

8 Aug 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American Wildcat (VC-1 USN, pilot Ens J.F. Sprague)

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

28 Aug 1944
3 men from the boat were killed and 1 more wounded during an air raid on La Pallice. The boat left for its next patrol on 23 August for its traverse to Germany, reaching Flensburg on 5 November.

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

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.