German submarine U-256

Unterseeboot 256 or U-256 (also known as U Flak 2) was a German World War II Type VIIC submarine commissioned on 18 December 1941. U-256 was assigned to 8. Unterseebootflottille (U-Boat Flotilla) for training. U-256 was later transferred to 9. Unterseebootflottille for operational service. U-256 completed five wartime patrols and sank one warship totalling 1,300 tons.

First patrol

U-256's first patrol started on 28 July 1942 during her transfer from Kiel to "9. Unterseebootflottille" at Brest, France. During the patrol U-256 pursued Convoy SC 94, and later on 25 August was damaged by depth charges while attacking Convoy ONS 122. U-256 began limping back to France and safety, but on 2 September she was further damaged by a Whitley bomber. On 3 September U-256 reached her base. Due to extensive damage she was withdrawn from service in November 1942.

Conversion to Flak submarine

During U-256's overhaul for extensive repairs, U-256 was converted to a "Flakboot" (Flak boat) in May 1943. One of just seven U-boats converted to Flak boats, U-256 was given an increased complement of anti-aircraft guns, to give the boat a better chance of fighting off enemy aircraft. On 16 August 1943 U-256 was re-commissioned as U-Flak 2. Her second wartime patrol started on 4 October; her mission was to rendezvous with and protect U-488. U-488 was a "Milchkuh" ('Milk cow' or re-supply U-boat). Such boats could re-supply multiple U-boats at sea. Consequently 'milk cows' were the prime target of Allied aircraft trying to disrupt U-boat activities. On 31 October "U Flak 2" was caught on the surface by the destroyer "USS Borie". "U Flak 2" escaped, but with minor depth charge damage. "U Flak 2" returned to her base at Brest on 17 November. Because the Flak conversions were not considered a success, "U Flak 2" was converted back to her original configuration in the winter of 1943/1944 and renamed back to U-256.

Final missions

U-256's third patrol started on 25 January 1944 and lasted until 22 March; U-256 patrolled west and southwest of Ireland and sank one ship, the HMS Woodpecker (U08). During U-256's fourth patrol between 6 June and 8 June 1944, she was seriously damaged. On 4 September U-256 became the last U-boat to leave Brest before the port was occupied by the Allies. The transit from Brest to Bergen, Norway would be U-256's last patrol. She reached Norway on 17 October, and was decommissioned on 23 October.

U-256 Commanders

*Odo Loewe - December 1941 to November 1942.
*Wilhelm Brauel - August 1943 to June 1944.
*Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock – September 1944 to October 1944.

References

*Bishop, C. "Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939–45". Amber Books, 2006.
*Williams, G. "Wolf-Pack: The Story of the U-boat in World War II". Osprey Pub., 2005.