German submarine U-265

German submarine U-265 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 3 July 1941 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 30, launched on 23 April 1942 and commissioned on 6 June under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Leonhard Aufhammer. After training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla, U-265 was transferred to the 7th U-boat Flotilla, for front-line service from 1 February 1943.

U-265 sank no ships in her short career. Her only patrol began when she departed Kiel on 21 January 1943. Her route took her through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe into the Atlantic Ocean. She was attacked and sunk by a British Flying Fortress of No. 220 Squadron RAF on 3 February 1943, at position 56.58333°N, -22.81667°W.

Forty-six men died; there were no survivors.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-265 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-265 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 a 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.