German submarine U-258

German submarine U-258 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack on 20 March 1941 as yard number 23. She was launched on 13 December and commissioned on 4 February 1942.

U-258 was sunk by a Royal Air Force Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of 120 Squadron in the North Atlantic on 20 May 1943.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-258 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-258 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Wolfpacks
U-258 took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely:
 * Pfeil (12 – 22 September 1942)
 * Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942)
 * Tiger (26 – 30 September 1942)
 * Wotan (5 – 17 October 1942)
 * Delphin (23 January – 9 February 1943)
 * Rochen (9 – 20 February 1943)
 * Adler (11 – 13 April 1943)
 * Meise (13 – 27 April 1943)
 * Star (27 April – 4 May 1943)
 * Inn (11 – 15 May 1943)
 * Donau 1 (15 – 20 May 1943)