| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-260 |
| Ordered | 23 December 1939 |
| Builder | Bremer Vulkan,Bremen-Vegesack |
| Yard number | 25 |
| Laid down | 7 May 1941 |
| Launched | 9 February 1942 |
| Commissioned | 14 March 1942 |
| Fate | Scuttled, 12 March 1945[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[2][3] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 44 273 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (4,893 GRT) |
German submarineU-260 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.Her keel waslaid down 7 May 1941 byBremer Vulkan, ofBremen-Vegesack. She wascommissioned 14 March 1942 withKapitänleutnant Herbertus Purkhold in command.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-260 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoAEG GU 460/8–27double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-260 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
U-260 conducted nine patrols in total. On her second,U-260 was part ofSpitzwolfpack[5] which attackedConvoy ON 154, making contact with the convoy on 28 December 1942, and sinking the 4,893 GRT British freighterEmpire Wagtail (lost with all hands – 43 dead).[6] This was the only ship sunk byU-260.
Purkhold was relieved in April 1944 byOberleutnant zur See Klaus Becker. Becker commanded the boat until March 1945.
On 12 March 1945,U-260 was scuttled south of neutral Ireland, in position51°15′N09°05′W / 51.250°N 9.083°W /51.250; -9.083, after sustaining mine damage. The minefield had been laid byHMS Apollo, anAbdiel-classminelayer.U-260's crew of five officers and 48 crew wereinterned in Ireland for the remainder of the war.
After the sinking, a sealed container of papers floated to the surface. A British expert flew toCork to examine them.[7]
In her entire career,U-260 suffered no casualties to her crew.
U-260 took part in 16wolfpacks, namely:
The wreck site ofU-260 was discovered in 1975 by local fisherman Colin Barnes after snagging nets, although it was presumed that the wreck ofCounsellor (sunk due to a mine in 1917) was in the area. A friend of Mr Barnes, Joe Barry, dived on the noted position and discovered the U-boat rather than the expected cargo ship.
U-260 currently lies in about 40–45 metres (131–148 ft) of water approximately seven kilometres south ofGlandore, and is a popularscuba diving site fromBaltimore, County Cork, andUnion Hall, Ireland.
There is recent speculation thatU-260 did not actually strike a mine, but instead struck an underwater pinnacle (now known as '78 Rock' but which was uncharted at the time) leading to its damaged state.
On 2 July 2014, two experienced divers died whilst exploring the wreck. The divers had deviated from their dive plan for the decompression dive by staying down too long, and ascended too quickly from the wreck. Both men were ruled to have died due to complications fromthe bends. The body of one diver was immediately recovered, and the body of the second diver was recovered later that afternoon.[8]
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 December 1942 | Empire Wagtail |  United Kingdom | 4,893 | Sunk |
