Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-256

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-25618 December 1941 — 23 October 19441,040 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-256
Builder
Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack
Ordered
23 December 1939
Laid down
15 February 1941
Launched
28 October 1941
Commissioned
18 December 1941
Recommissioned
16 August 1943
Struck
November 1942
Fate
Captured in May 1945 at Bergen, Norway, and broken up (1945)
Status
Scrapped

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-256 was a Type VIIC submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Bremer Vulkan, Bremen-Vegesack on 15 February 1941. She entered service on 18 December 1941, having been launched on 28 October 1941.

She was one of 612 ships of her class. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 1,040 days of the Second World War. She recommissioned on 16 August 1943. She was struck from the register in November 1942.

She was broken up for scrap in May 1945.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 2 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources