German submarine U-253

German submarine U-253 was a [German German Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC] U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The U-boat was laid down 15 November 1940 at the Bremer Vulkan shipyard in Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 30 August 1941 and commissioned on 21 October 1941. U-253 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training before being assigned operationally to the 6th U-boat Flotilla from 1 to 25 September 1942. She completed one patrol but did not sink any ships.
U-253 was sunk with all hands on 25 September 1942 in the Denmark Strait, northwest of Iceland, at. The exact cause of her loss is uncertain, but it is believed to have been a British mine in the Northern Barrage.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-253 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-253 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.