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The submarine U-2513 was built at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, which was famous for producing equipment for the Kaiserlischemarine, and later the Kriegsmarine. She was launched on 19 July 1944 and can be called the first submarine of the modern type, which was followed by the Allied ships long after the end of World War II.
In total over 100 ships of this type were produced (only 8 survived the war), boasting an impressive range of 15,500 nautical miles. U-2513 was armed with 2 twin 20mm anti-aircraft guns, 6 bow torpedo launchers and 23 torpedoes. On 8 May 1945, this technical marvel of the time entered service with the 31st U-boat training flotilla.
The ship aroused great hopes of the Third Reich in the perspective of the fights for supremacy in the Atlantic. It is widely believed that this type of vessel was a milestone in the development of submarines and its design solutions were used in the construction of the first nuclear submarines.
A breakthrough was certainly the installation of new generation, extremely light batteries on Type XXI vessels. In combination with very streamlined hull shapes, this ensured unprecedented speeds when submerged.
The first commander of U-2513 was appointed as Kapitänleutnant Hans Bungards, who remained in this position until 26 April 1945. On 1 April 1945, the ship was transferred from the 31st training flotilla to the 11th (front) flotilla, and shortly afterwards, on 27 April, the experienced submariner, Knight-Cross Fregattenkapitän Erich Topp became the ship’s commander.
However, he did not manage to make a single combat patrol on his new unit, because on 8 May Karl Dönitz signed the act of unconditional surrender of the Third Reich. On the same day, U-2513, stationed in Horten, Norway, surrendered to the Allies. First, it was towed to Oslo on 20 May and then to Lisahally in Northern Ireland, where it arrived on 7 June.
[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6UVMzJNJRI”]
Although U-2513 was enlisted in the Krigsmarine on 1 April 1944, she never took an active part in battle or in any combat patrol. His Krigsmarine career lasted only 11 months.
After the American takeover, U-2513 retained its original designation and sailed for a few years under the flag of the US Navy as USS U-2513.
At that time it served mainly as a training ship. On her board there were guests such as the President of the USA – Harry S. Truman, as well as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. After the takeover she remained in the service of the USA until July 1949. The decision to withdraw it was made because of the wear of the German batteries, which could not be replaced by new ones.
After 7 years from launching it was sunk by a rocket launched by the USS Robert A. Owens and turned into a training target near Key West, Florida – position 24.53N, 83.15W. Today, the wreck lies at a depth of 75m and is an attractive object for experienced divers.
63 years after the sinking of U-2513, a dive was carried out on its wreck by two unmanned vessels. The aim of the expedition was to create a video recording to bring this piece of history closer to non-divers. The video recording is below.
How would World War II have turned out if Adolf Hitler had introduced the XXI class ships earlier? Of course, we will never know, but there is still an interesting field for reflection. How do you think Type XXI ships would have turned the tide of the war and saved Germany from ultimate defeat?
Source: vaterland.pl; gastro.ostrowwlkp.pl; facta-nautica.graptolite.net
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