German submarine U-2503 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the "Elektroboote") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 2 May 1944 at the Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 2503. She was launched on 29 June 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Raimund Tiesler on 1 August 1944 .[1]
Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2503 had a displacement of 1621t when at the surface and 1819t while submerged. She had a total length of 76.7m (251.6feet) (o/a), a beam of 8m (26feet), and a draught of 6.32m (20.73feet). The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4000lk=onNaNlk=on, two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5000PS, and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226PS.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a submerged speed of . When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate at for ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-2503 was fitted with six 53.3cm (21inches) torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.
On 3 May 1945, while on her way to Norway, U-2503 was in the Great Belt, near the Ömo Light Tower, when she was caught and attacked on the surface by Royal Air Force (RAF) Bristol Beaufighters of 236 Squadron and 254 Squadron, part of the Banff Strike Wing. U-2503 was struck in the area of the conning tower by at least one rocket, which caused severe damage and killed several crewmen and Kapitänleutnant Karl-Jürg Wächter. U-2503, burning badly, was beached off of Omø, with 13 dead and an unknown number of survivors. The remaining crew landed ashore and scuttled the boat with explosives the next day.
U-2503s location when scuttled, 55.15°N 19°W.