U-251

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep 1939

Laid down

18 Oct 1940

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 16)

Launched

26 Jul 1941

Commissioned

20 Sep 1941

Kptlt. 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)

Successes

2 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.