Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-266

Type VIIC submarine

German submarine U-266
Unknown author — Tompei — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate German submarine U-266

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-26624 June 1942 — 15 May 1943325 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-266
Builder
Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen
Ordered
15 August 1940
Laid down
1 August 1941
Launched
11 May 1942
Commissioned
24 June 1942
Fate
Sunk, 15 May 1943 (1943)
Status
Wreck

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-266 was a Type VIIC submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen laid her keel on 1 August 1941. She entered service on 24 June 1942, having been launched on 11 May 1942.

Her class ran to 612 ships. 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 325 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 15 May 1943. The wreck survives.

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