German submarine U-266

German submarine U-266 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 August 1941 at Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft in Bremen as yard number 31. She was launched on 11 May 1942 and commissioned on 24 June under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hannes Leinemann.

In two patrols, she sank four ships of 16,089 GRT. She was a member of five wolf packs.

She was sunk in May 1943 in mid-Atlantic by a British aircraft.

Service history
After training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, the boat became operational on 1 January 1943 when she was transferred to the 7th flotilla.

1st patrol
U-266's first patrol began when she departed Kiel on 22 December 1942. She entered the Atlantic Ocean after negotiating the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She sank Polyktor on 6 February 1943. She then docked at the French Atlantic port of St. Nazaire on the 17th.

2nd patrol and loss
The boat departed St. Nazaire on 14 March 1943 for the mid-Atlantic once more. On 5 May, she sank Bonde, Gharinda and Selvistan.

The boat was sunk on 15 May by a British Handley Page Halifax of No. 58 Squadron RAF. Forty-seven men died; there were no survivors.

Previously recorded fate
U-266 had been thought to have been sunk on 14 May 1943 by a British B-24 Liberator of 86 squadron.