German submarine U-2538

German submarine U-2538 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 24 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2538. She was launched on 6 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See  Heinrich Klapdor, on 16 February 1945.

Design
Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2538 had a displacement of 1621 t when at the surface and 1819 t while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (o/a), a beam length of 8 m, and a draught length of 6.32 m. The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4000 PS, two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5000 PS, and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 kn and a submerged speed of 17.2 kn. When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 kn for 340 nmi; when surfaced, she could travel 15500 nmi at 10 kn. U-2538 was fitted with six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.

Fate
U-2538 was scuttled on 8 May 1945, at 0445 hrs, southwest of Ærø, near Marstal, as part of Operation Regenbogen. The wreck was later raised and broken up in 1950.

Original location of wreck was 54.88472°N, 10.25194°W