German submarine U-2517 was a Type XXI U‑boat of the Kriegsmarine built during the final phase of World War II. The vessel was laid down on 12 May 1944 at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, launched on 30 October 1944, and commissioned on 9 March 1945 under the command of Kapitänleutnant (substantive rank may vary in sources).
Design and specifications
- Class: Type XXI (Elektroboot)
- Displacement: 1,621 t surfaced, 1,819 t submerged
- Length: 76.70 m overall
- Beam: 8.00 m
- Draft: 6.32 m
- Propulsion: Two MAN M6V40/46 supercharged diesel engines (2,800 PS total) for surface travel; two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double‑acting electric motors (5,000 PS total) for submerged operation, plus one silent running motor (226 PS).
- Speed: 15.6 kn surfaced, 17.2 kn submerged; 6.1 kn on silent running.
- Range: 15,500 nmi at 10 kn surfaced; 340 nmi at 5 kn submerged.
- Armament: Six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) with a capacity of 23 torpedoes or a mixed load of torpedoes and mines; one 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun (rarely fitted on later Type XXI boats); anti‑aircraft armament typically included one or two 2 cm Flak guns.
- Crew: Approximately 55 officers and enlisted men.
Service history
U‑2517 completed its sea trials in early 1945 but saw limited operational activity due to the collapsing German war effort. The submarine was assigned to the 31st U‑boat Flotilla, which was based in the Baltic Sea for training and final deployment. On 9 May 1945, following Germany’s unconditional surrender, U‑2517 surrendered to Allied forces at Horten, Norway.
Post‑war disposition
After surrender, U‑2517 was transferred to the United Kingdom as part of the allocation of captured German submarines. The vessel was subsequently selected for inclusion in “Operation Deadlight,” the British program to dispose of former Kriegsmarine U‑boats. On 31 December 1945, U‑2517 was towed out to the designated scuttling area in the North Atlantic and deliberately sunk by naval gunfire.
Legacy
U‑2517, like other Type XXI submarines, represented a significant technological advance in submarine design, featuring streamlined hulls, increased submerged speed, and improved battery capacity. Although the war ended before these boats could be employed in large numbers, their design influenced post‑war submarine development in several navies.
