German submarine U-2503

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.

Design
Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2503 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-2503 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
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 Kptlt. Karl-Jürg Wächter. U-2503, burining 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-2503's location when scuttled, 55.15°N, 11.13333°W.