German submarine U-260

German submarine U-260 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down 7 May 1941 by Bremer Vulkan, of Bremen-Vegesack. She was commissioned 14 March 1942 with Kapitänleutnant Herbertus Purkhold in command.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-260 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 460/8–27 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-260 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.

Service history
U-260 conducted nine patrols in total. On her second, U-260 was part of Spitz wolfpack which attacked Convoy ON-154, making contact with the convoy on 28 December 1942, and sinking the 4,893 GRT British freighter Empire Wagtail (lost with all hands – 43 dead). This was the only ship sunk by U-260.

Purkhold was relieved in April 1944 by Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Becker. Becker commanded the boat until March 1945.

On 12 March 1945, U-260 was scuttled south of neutral Ireland, in position 51.25°N, -9.08333°W, after sustaining mine damage. The minefield had been laid by HMS Apollo (M01), an Abdiel-class minelayer.

After the sinking, a sealed container of papers floated to the surface. A British expert flew to Cork to examine them.

The crew of five officers and 48 crew were interned in Ireland for the remainder of the war. In her entire career, U-260 suffered no casualties to her crew.

Wolfpacks
U-260 took part in 16 wolfpacks, namely:
 * Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942)
 * Tiger (26 – 30 September 1942)
 * Luchs (1 – 6 October 1942)
 * Panther (6 – 11 October 1942)
 * Südwärts (24 – 26 October 1942)
 * Spitz (22 – 31 December 1942)
 * Seeteufel (21 – 30 March 1943)
 * Löwenherz (1 – 10 April 1943)
 * Lerche (10 – 15 April 1943)
 * Specht (21 April – 4 May 1943)
 * Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)
 * Leuthen (15 – 24 September 1943)
 * Rossbach (24 September – 7 October 1943)
 * Rügen 6 (28 December 1943 – 2 January 1944)
 * Rügen 5 (2 – 7 January 1944)
 * Rügen (7 – 11 January 1944)

Post war
The wreck site of U-260 was discovered in 1975 by local fisherman Colin Barnes after snagging nets, although it was presumed that the wreck of Counsellor (sunk due to a mine in 1917) was in the area. A friend of Mr Barnes, Joe Barry, dived on the noted position and discovered the U-boat rather than the expected cargo ship.

U-260 currently lies in about 40 – of water approximately seven kilometres south of Glandore, and is a popular scuba diving site from Baltimore, County Cork, and Union Hall.

There is recent speculation that U-260 did not actually strike a mine, but instead struck an underwater pinnacle (now known as '78 Rock' but which was uncharted at the time) leading to its damaged state.

On 2 July 2014, two experienced divers died whilst exploring the wreck. The divers had deviated from their dive plan by staying down too long, and ascended too quickly from the wreck. Both men were ruled to have died due to complications from the bends. The body of one diver was immediately recovered, and the body of the second diver was recovered later that afternoon.