Submarine · 1942–1945 · Cork, Ireland
U-260
Also known as German submarine U-260, U260.
U-260, a German submarine built in 1942 and mined in 1945, lies at 36–43 metres off Cork, Ireland.
At 43 metres on a rocky seabed near Baltimore, a German U-boat sits almost perfectly intact -- torpedoes still loaded in their tubes, the periscope glass unbroken, the Walter snorkel standing upright after eight decades on the bottom. U-260 was a Type VIIC submarine that struck a British mine approximately 32 kilometres south of the Fastnet Rock on 12 March 1945.
The entire crew survived and were interned in Ireland for the rest of the war. Apart from mine damage to the bow, the hull is remarkably preserved. The conning tower, twin bronze propellers, and DF aerial all remain in place.
- Type
- SubmarineGerman
- Year built
- 1942Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack
- Lost
- March 12th, 1945Mine
- Casualties
- 0World War II
- Tonnage
- 769 GRTdiesel-electric
- Length
- 67.1 m6.2 m beam
- Depth
- 36–43 m
- Location
- Cork, IrelandCeltic Sea
1 of 8 facts above is cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 139 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost March 12th, 1945 · Mine · World War II · Cork, Ireland.
On 12 March 1945, U-260 was operating south of Ireland when she struck a British mine at a depth of approximately 80 metres. The mine caused significant damage to the bow but the boat remained afloat long enough for the crew to abandon ship. The entire crew survived and were picked up, eventually being interned in Ireland. The boat sank and came to rest on a rocky seabed at approximately 43 metres depth.
Built 1942 by Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack; 3 years in service, also recorded as German submarine U-260 and U260. Lost March 12th, 1945, mine during World War II.
Condition of the WreckLargely intact, in 36–43 m, on sand and rock.
Intactness
Virtually intact. The bow shows damage from the mine strike but the rest of the hull, conning tower, and stern are remarkably well preserved. The periscope glass is still in place. Torpedo tubes contain torpedoes.
Hatches are open. The Walter snorkel and DF aerial remain standing.
Notable Features
- Intact conning tower with periscope (glass still in place)
- Torpedoes visible in tubes
- Twin bronze propellers
- Walter snorkel still standing
- DF aerial intact
- Mine damage to bow section
Additional Details14 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- German
- Flag
- Germany
- Builder
- Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack
- Propulsion
- Diesel-electric
- Loss date
- March 12th, 1945
- Conflict / event
- World War II
- Latitude
- 51.4859° N
- Longitude
- 9.1037° W
- Water body
- Celtic Sea
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Largely intact
- Seabed
- Sand and rock
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- Geological Survey Ireland / Marine Institute (INFOMAR)gsi.geodata.gov.ie · Official record2 facts
- Dive Site Directorydivesitedirectory.co.uk · Secondary source3 facts
- Irish Wrecks Onlineirishwrecksonline.net · Secondary source1 fact
- uboat.netuboat.net · Secondary source1 fact
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading1 fact
Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.
- INFOMAR Shipwrecks © Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
A further 1 field was derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the U-260?
U-260 is the wreck of a submarine, off Cork, Ireland, at 43 metres. U-260 struck a mine in 1945.
How deep is the U-260?
U-260 lies at 36 to 43 metres, South of Ireland, near Baltimore, County Cork.
How did the U-260 sink?
U-260 struck a mine on March 12th, 1945 during World War II, off Cork, Ireland. No lives were lost.