German submarine U-263

German submarine U-263 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 8 June 1941 at the Bremer-Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft (yard) in Bremen as 'werk' 28. She was launched on 18 March 1942 and commissioned on 6 May under the command of Kapitänleutnant Kurt Nölke.

In two patrols, she sank two ships of 12,376 GRT. She was a member of one wolf pack.

She was sunk in January 1944 in the Bay of Biscay, during a deep dive trial.

Service history
After training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, the boat became operational on 1 November 1942 when she was transferred to the 1st flotilla.

1st patrol
U-263's first patrol began when she departed Kiel on 27 October 1942. She entered the Atlantic Ocean after negotiating the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. There followed a series of attacks west of Gibraltar, first by the U-boat on two freighters, then on the submarine by surface ships (on 20 November), aircraft (on 24 November) and a submarine (on 26 November), all of which she was lucky to survive. Even so, the damage sustained needed 13 months of repairs. She arrived at La Pallice / La Rochelle in occupied France on 29 November.

2nd patrol and loss
The boat departed La Pallice on 19 January 1942. She was sunk the next day in the Bay of Biscay during a deep dive trial.

Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.