View source for German submarine U-2513

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= U-2513 off Key West.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=USS ''U-2513'' off Key West in October 1946
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= Germany
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name= ''U-2513''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=6 November 1943
|Ship builder= [[Blohm & Voss]], [[Hamburg]], [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
|Ship yard number=2513
|Ship laid down=19 July 1944
|Ship launched= 14 September 1944
|Ship commissioned= 12 October 1944
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate= Surrendered on 9 May 1945
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country= United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1949}}
|Ship name= ''U-2513''
|Ship acquired=August 1945
|Ship commissioned=
|Ship in service=September 1946
|Ship out of service=July 1949
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate=Sunk as target on 7 October 1951
|Ship notes=
}}{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Type XXI submarine]]
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|1621|t|LT|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|1819|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=
*{{convert|76.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[o/a]])
*{{convert|60.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[pressure hull|p/h]])
|Ship beam=
*{{convert|8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (o/a)
*{{convert|5.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (p/h)
|Ship height={{convert|11.30|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|6.32|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
*{{convert|4000|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (diesel drive)
*{{convert|5000|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (standard electric drive)
*{{convert|226|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (silent electric drive)
|Ship propulsion=
*Diesel/Electric
*2 × [[MAN SE|MAN]] M6V40/46KBB [[supercharged]] 6-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s 
*2 × [[Siemens-Schuckert|SSW]] GU365/30 [[Motor-generator|double-acting electric motors]] 
*2 × SSW GV232/28 silent running electric motors
|Ship speed=
*''Surfaced'':
*{{convert|15.6|kn}} (diesel)
*{{convert|17.9|kn}} (electric)
*''Submerged'':
*{{convert|17.2|kn}} (electric)
*{{convert|6.1|kn}} (silent running motors)
|Ship range=
*{{convert|15,500|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|340|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|5|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|280|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=57–60 crewmen
|Ship sensors=
*[[Hohentwiel (Radar)|Type F432 D2 Radar Transmitter]]
*FuMB Ant 3 ''Bali'' Radar Detector
|Ship armament=
*6 × bow [[torpedo tube]]s
*23 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo]]es (''or'' 17 × torpedoes and 12 × TMC [[Naval mine|mine]]s)
*4 × [[2 cm Flak 30, Flak 38 and Flakvierling 38|{{convert|2|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} AA guns]] or
*4 × [[3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} AA guns]]
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship = yes
|label = Service record (''Kriegsmarine'')
|partof  =
*[[31st U-boat Flotilla]]
*12 October 1944 – 1 April 1945
*[[11th U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 April – 8 May 1945
|codes=M 46 136
|commanders=
*''[[Kptlt.]]'' Hans Bungards<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/men/commanders/155.html
 |title=Hans Bungards
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=Uboat.net
 |access-date=30 April 2016
}}</ref>
*12 October 1944 – 26 April 1945
*''[[F.Kapt.]]'' [[Erich Topp]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/men/topp.htm
 |title=Erich Topp
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=Uboat.net
 |access-date=30 April 2016
}}</ref>
*27 April – 9 May 1945
|operations=None
|victories=None
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-2513''''' was a [[Type XXI submarine|Type XXI]] [[U-boat]] of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'', that was operated by the [[United States Navy]] for several years after [[World War II]].

==Design==
Like all [[Type XXI submarine|Type XXI]] [[U-boat]]s, ''U-2513'' had a displacement of {{convert|1621|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1819|t|LT}} while submerged. She had a total length of {{convert|76.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} ([[o/a]]), a beam of {{convert|8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|6.32|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=85}} The submarine was powered by two [[MAN SE]] supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing {{convert|4000|PS|kW shp|lk=on|abbr=off}}, two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] GU365/30 [[Motor–generator|double-acting]] electric motors each providing {{convert|5000|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}}, and two Siemens-Schuckert [[Silent running (submarine)|silent running]] GV232/28 electric motors each providing {{convert|226|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=85}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|15.6|kn}} and a submerged speed of {{convert|17.2|kn}}. When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of {{convert|6.1|kn}}. When submerged, the boat could operate at {{convert|5|kn}} for {{convert|340|nmi}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|15500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=85}} ''U-2513'' was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s in the bow and four [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] [[anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]]. She could carry twenty-three [[torpedo]]es or seventeen torpedoes and twelve [[Naval mine|mines]]. The [[Ship's company|complement]] was five officers and fifty-two men.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=85}}

==Service history==

===''Kriegsmarine''===
Her keel was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 19 July 1944 by [[Blohm & Voss]] of [[Hamburg]]. She was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]]  on 12 October 1944 with ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' Hans Bungards in command. Bungards was relieved on 27 April 1945 by ''[[Fregattenkapitän]]'' [[Erich Topp]], who commanded the boat for less than two weeks.

''U-2513'' conducted no war patrols. On 9 May 1945, Topp surrendered his command at [[Karljohansvern|Horten Naval Base]], Norway. ''U-2513'' was taken to [[Oslo]] on 18 May, then to Lishally, Northern Ireland, which she reached on 9 June. In August 1945, the U-boat was transferred to the United States.

===United States Navy===
A year later, August 1946, ''U-2513'' began an extensive overhaul in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], which was completed late in September. On 24 September, she departed Charleston and headed for [[Key West, Florida]]. The following day, she began six months of duty which included both evaluation tests of the U-boat's design and duty in conjunction with the development of submarine and antisubmarine tactics. The [[Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program]] (GUPPY) would be initiated because of the results of these tests.

On 21 November 1946 President [[Harry S. Truman]] became the second American President (after [[Theodore Roosevelt]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2020/06/theodore-roosevelt-a-president-of-firsts/|title=Theodore Roosevelt: A President of "Firsts" &#124; Headlines and Heroes|date=4 June 2020}}</ref>) to travel on a submarine when he visited ''U-2513''. The sub went {{convert|440|ft|m}} below the surface with the President on board, and a demonstration was made to him of the German schnorchel (a specialized [[submarine snorkel]]).<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p1kbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1EwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3101,1930838&dq=truman+sub&hl=en "Truman Dives 440 Feet In German Sub"], ''The Pittsburgh Press'', 21 November 1946, p9</ref>

On 15 March 1947, ''U-2513'' headed north from [[Key West, Florida]], bound for the [[New England]] coast, and arrived at [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]], on 22 March. She remained there until 8 September when she began six weeks of operations from Portsmouth and [[New London, Connecticut]], under the auspices of the Commander, Submarines, Atlantic Fleet. She concluded that duty on 15 October and departed New London to return to Key West. ''U-2513'' resumed her old duties at Key West five days later and continued them until the summer of 1949.

In mid-June 1949, the submarine moved from Key West north via [[Norfolk, Virginia]], to [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]], where she was placed out of service in July 1949. She remained at Portsmouth until August 1951 at which time she returned to Key West. On 2 September 1951, the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] ordered that the boat be sunk by gunfire. ''U-2513'' was sunk west of [[Key West, Florida]] during rocket tests by the [[destroyer]] {{USS|Robert A. Owens|DD-827|6}} on 7 October 1951.

The final resting place of ''U-2513'' is about {{convert|23|nmi|0}} northwest of the [[Dry Tortugas]], {{convert|70|nmi|0}} west of Key West) in about {{convert|213|ft|m}} of water at {{coord|24|52.015|N|83|18.594|W|display=title,inline}}.<ref name=Barnette>{{cite book |last= Barnette |first= Michael C. |author-link=Michael C. Barnette |title=[[Florida's Shipwrecks]] |year=2008 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-5413-6}}</ref> She is reachable only by divers experienced in decompression diving at that depth. The site is rarely dived on due to its depth and remote location.

== See also==
*{{GS|U-3008}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |title=Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |date=1999|volume=IV |publisher=Mittler|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXKwAAAAIAAJ |language=de}}
*{{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|series=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}

{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/u1/u-2513.htm}}
*{{Cite web
 |url= http://uboat.net/boats/u2513.html
 |title= The Type XXI boat U-2513
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
 |access-date= 31 January 2015
}}
*[http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/submar/u2513.htm hazegray.org: U-2513]
* {{navsource|08/08358|USS U-2513}}

{{German Type XXI submarines}}
{{1951 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U2513}}
[[Category:Captured U-boats]]
[[Category:Research submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Florida Keys]]
[[Category:Type XXI submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1944]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:Submarines of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1951]]
[[Category:1944 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Hamburg]]