German submarine U-560

German submarine U-560 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She carried out no patrols, sank no ships, and was scuttled on 3 May 1945 in Kiel. The wreck was broken up in 1946. The submarine was laid down on 1 February 1940 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 536, launched on 10 January 1941 and commissioned on 6 March under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche. She served with the 24th U-boat Flotilla from 6 March 1941 for training and was reassigned to the 22nd flotilla on 1 December 1943, then the 31st flotilla on 1 March 1945.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-560 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 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-560 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.

Service record
U-560 was scuttled on 3 May 1945, at Kiel, before participating in any war patrols. The wreck was later raised and broken up in 1946.