German submarine U-2511

German submarine U-2511 was a Type XXI submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The Elektroboot submarine was laid down on 7 July 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 2 September 1944, and commissioned on 29 September 1944 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee.^[1]

U-2511 (center) in Bergen, Norway
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-2511
Ordered	6 November 1943
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	2511
Laid down	7 July 1944
Launched	2 September 1944
Commissioned	29 September 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Bergen Sunk in Operation Deadlight on 7 January 1946 at 7:40 pm
General characteristics
Class & type	Type XXI submarine
Displacement	1,621 t (1,595 long tons) surfaced 2,100 t (2,067 long tons) submerged
Length	76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam	8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Height	11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught	6.32 m (20 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	Diesel/Electric 2 × MAN M6V40/46KBB supercharged 6-cylinder diesel engines, 4,000 PS (2,900 kW; 3,900 shp) 2 × SSW GU365/30 double-acting electric motors, 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp) 2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors, 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp)
Speed	Surfaced: 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) (diesel) 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) (electric) Submerged: 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) (electric) 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) (silent running motors)
Range	15,500 nmi (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 340 nmi (630 km; 390 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth	240 m (790 ft)
Complement	5 officers, 52 enlisted
Sensors & processing systems	Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter FuMB Ant 3 Bali Radar Detector
Armament	6 × bow torpedo tubes 23 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes or 17 × torpedoes and 12 × mines 4 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA guns
Service record[1][2]
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 29 September 1944 – 14 March 1945 11th U-boat Flotilla 15 March – 8 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 45 912
Commanders:	Kptlt. / K.Kapt. Adalbert Schnee[3] 29 September 1944 – 9 May 1945
Operations:	1 patrol: 3 – 6 May 1945
Victories:	None

Design

Like all Type XXI submarines, U-2511 had a displacement of 1,621 tonnes (1,595 long tons) when at the surface and 1,819 tonnes (1,790 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (251 ft 8 in) (o/a), a beam of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in).^[4] The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000 metric horsepower (2,900 kilowatts; 3,900 shaft horsepower), two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).^[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a submerged speed of 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph). When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) for 340 nautical miles (630 km; 390 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 15,500 nautical miles (28,700 km; 17,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).^[4] U-2511 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry 23 torpedoes or 17 torpedoes and 12 naval mine. The complement was five officers and 52 men.^[4]

Service history

After training with 31st U-boat Flotilla, U-2511 was transferred to 11th U-boat Flotilla at Bergen, Norway, for front-line service on 15 March 1945.^[1]

U-2511 conducted one patrol. On the evening of 30 April 1945 (coincidentally the date of Hitler's death), U-2511 set out from Bergen, Norway for the Caribbean, but on 4 May Schnee received the end-of-the-war cease-fire order.^[1] The commander of U-2511 claimed the U-boat had a British cruiser in her sights on 4 May when news of the German cease-fire was received. He further claimed she made a practice attack before leaving the scene undetected.^[5]

Fate

On 17 June 1945, U-2511 was transferred from Bergen, and arrived at Londonderry Port on 21 June for Operation Deadlight. The U-boat was sunk on 7 January 1946 at 7:40 pm in position 55°33′N 07°38′W.^[1] She was sunk by gunfire after her towing cable parted.

The wreck lies at a depth 69 metres (226 ft). She had been visited by divers at least three times, in 1999 and 2001, and circa 2012 for 'Dig WW2 with Dan Snow',^[6] revealing she is largely intact except for a large blast hole caused by the shellfire that sank her.^[7]