German submarine U-263

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-263
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen
Yard number	28
Laid down	8 June 1941
Launched	18 March 1942
Commissioned	6 May 1942
Fate	Sunk, 20 January 1944 in the Bay of Biscay during a deep dive trial
General characteristics
Class & type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 6 May – 31 October 1942; 1st U-boat Flotilla; 1 November 1942 – 20 January 1944;
Identification codes:	M 02 258
Commanders:	Kptlt. / K.Kapt. Kurt Nölke; 6 May – December 1942; 1943 – 20 January 1944;
Operations:	2 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 27 October – 29 November 1942; 2nd patrol:; 19 – 20 January 1942;
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk ; (12,376 GRT)

German submarine U-263 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 8 June 1941 at the Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft (yard) in Bremen as yard number 28. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and commissioned on 6 May under the command of Kapitänleutnant Kurt Nölke.

In two patrols, she sank two ships of 12,376 gross register tons (GRT). She was a member of one wolfpack.

She was sunk on 20 January 1944 in the Bay of Biscay, during a deep dive trial.

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-263
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen
Yard number	28
Laid down	8 June 1941
Launched	18 March 1942
Commissioned	6 May 1942
Fate	Sunk, 20 January 1944 in the Bay of Biscay during a deep dive trial
General characteristics
Class & type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 6 May – 31 October 1942 1st U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1942 – 20 January 1944
Identification codes:	M 02 258
Commanders:	Kptlt. / K.Kapt. Kurt Nölke 6 May – December 1942 1943 – 20 January 1944
Operations:	2 patrols: 1st patrol: 27 October – 29 November 1942 2nd patrol: 19 – 20 January 1942
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk (12,376 GRT)