U-255

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep 1939

Laid down

21 Dec 1940

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 20)

Launched

8 Oct 1941

Commissioned

29 Nov 1941

Kptlt. Reinhart Reche (Knights Cross)

Commanders

29 Nov 1941	-	6 Jun 1943	Kptlt. Reinhart Reche (Knights Cross)
7 Jun 1943	-	Aug, 1944	Oblt. (R) Erich Harms
2 Mar 1945	-	17 May 1945	Oblt. (R) Helmuth Heinrich

Career
15 patrols

29 Nov 1941	-	30 Jun 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1942	-	31 May 1943	11. Flottille (active service)
1 Jun 1943	-	30 Nov 1943	13. Flottille (active service)
1 Dec 1943	-	1 Sep 1944	7. Flottille (active service)
1 Mar 1945	-	8 May 1945	13. Flottille (-)

Successes

10 ships sunk, total tonnage 47,640 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,200 tons
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 7,191 GRT

Fate

Surrendered at Loch Eriboll, Scotland on 17 May 1945 (Waller & Niestlé, 2010).

Transferred to Loch Alsh on 19 May 1945 and later to Lisahally and Loch Ryan.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 13 Dec 1945 in position 55.50N, 10.05W.

Final location

See the 12 ships hit by U-255 - View the 15 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-255 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Eisteufel (1 Jul 1942 - 12 Jul 1942)
   Nebelkönig (7 Aug 1942 - 9 Aug 1942)
   Nordwind (24 Jan 1943 - 4 Feb 1943)
   Taifun (2 Apr 1943 - 4 Apr 1943)
   Eisbär (4 Apr 1943 - 15 Apr 1943)
   Preussen (9 Mar 1944 - 22 Mar 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

23 Sep 1942
U-255 was attacked by a Catalina flying boat (RAF Sqdn 210/U, F/Sgt J.W. Semmons) south of Jan Mayen Island and was forced to return to base by heavy damage from two depth charges.

9 Mar 1944
The boat located a big tanker convoy, CU 16, and went in to attack. She was herself attacked by surface escorts, but managed to sink the USS Leopold. U-255 escaped after being hunted for three hours. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 503)

11 Mar 1944
Two men were wounded in an aircraft attack. After a failed attempt to meet U-608, which had a doctor on board, the men's wounds were treated and the boat continued on patrol.

27 Mar 1944
Unidentified aircraft attacked the boat off Gibraltar as she attempted to enter the Mediterranean, forcing her return to France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 508)

11 Apr 1944
After being attacked by aircraft off Gibraltar on 27 March the inbound U-255 was caught on the surface with her escort by 15 British Mosquito aircraft. These were in turn attacked by German Ju-88 aircraft. The boat reached St. Nazaire with minor damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 508)

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in September 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from the boat

11 Mar 1944
Two men were wounded in an aircraft attack. After a failed attempt to meet U-608, which had a doctor on board, the men's wounds were treated and the boat continued on patrol.

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -