%2c_30_October_1946_(80-G-705562).jpg) USSU-2513 off Key West in October 1946 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Germany | |
| Name | U-2513 |
| Ordered | 6 November 1943 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg,Germany |
| Yard number | 2513 |
| Laid down | 19 July 1944 |
| Launched | 14 September 1944 |
| Commissioned | 12 October 1944 |
| Fate | Surrendered on 9 May 1945 |
 United States | |
| Name | U-2513 |
| Acquired | August 1945 |
| In service | September 1946 |
| Out of service | July 1949 |
| Fate | Sunk as target on 7 October 1951 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type XXI submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam |
|
| Height | 11.30 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 280 m (920 ft) |
| Complement | 57–60 crewmen |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Service record (Kriegsmarine) | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 46 136 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
German submarineU-2513 was aType XXIU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine, that was operated by theUnited States Navy for several years afterWorld War II.
Like allType XXIU-boats,U-2513 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).[3] The submarine was powered by twoMAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4,000metric horsepower (2,900kilowatts; 3,900shaft horsepower), twoSiemens-Schuckert GU365/30double-acting electric motors each providing 5,000 PS (3,700 kW; 4,900 shp), and two Siemens-Schuckertsilent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS (166 kW; 223 shp).[3]
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).[3]U-2513 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21.0 in)torpedo tubes in the bow and four2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-threetorpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelvemines. Thecomplement was five officers and fifty-two men.[3]
Her keel waslaid down on 19 July 1944 byBlohm & Voss ofHamburg. She wascommissioned on 12 October 1944 withKapitänleutnant Hans Bungards in command. Bungards was relieved on 27 April 1945 byFregattenkapitänErich Topp, who commanded the boat for less than two weeks.
U-2513 conducted no war patrols. On 9 May 1945, Topp surrendered his command atHorten Naval Base, Norway.U-2513 was taken toOslo on 18 May, then to Lishally, Northern Ireland, which she reached on 9 June. In August 1945, the U-boat was transferred to the United States.
A year later, August 1946,U-2513 began an extensive overhaul inCharleston, South Carolina, which was completed late in September. On 24 September, she departed Charleston and headed forKey West, Florida. The following day, she began six months of duty which included both evaluation tests of the U-boat's design and duty in conjunction with the development of submarine and antisubmarine tactics. TheGreater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) would be initiated because of the results of these tests.
On 21 November 1946 PresidentHarry S. Truman became the second American President (afterTheodore Roosevelt[4]) to travel on a submarine when he visitedU-2513. The sub went 440 feet (130 m) below the surface with the President on board, and a demonstration was made to him of the German schnorchel (a specializedsubmarine snorkel).[5]
On 15 March 1947,U-2513 headed north fromKey West, Florida, bound for theNew England coast, and arrived atPortsmouth, New Hampshire, on 22 March. She remained there until 8 September when she began six weeks of operations from Portsmouth andNew London, Connecticut, under the auspices of the Commander, Submarines, Atlantic Fleet. She concluded that duty on 15 October and departed New London to return to Key West.U-2513 resumed her old duties at Key West five days later and continued them until the summer of 1949.
In mid-June 1949, the submarine moved from Key West north viaNorfolk, Virginia, toPortsmouth, New Hampshire, where she was placed out of service in July 1949. She remained at Portsmouth until August 1951 at which time she returned to Key West. On 2 September 1951, theChief of Naval Operations ordered that the boat be sunk by gunfire.U-2513 was sunk west ofKey West, Florida during rocket tests by thedestroyerUSS Robert A. Owens on 7 October 1951.
The final resting place ofU-2513 is about 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) northwest of theDry Tortugas, 70 nautical miles (130 km; 81 mi) west of Key West) in about 213 feet (65 m) of water at24°52.015′N83°18.594′W / 24.866917°N 83.309900°W /24.866917; -83.309900.[6] She is reachable only by divers experienced in decompression diving at that depth. The site is rarely dived on due to its depth and remote location.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1951 | |
|---|---|
| Shipwrecks |
|
| Other incidents |
|
