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Hel Peninsula · Poland · Wreck

U-272

A Type VIIC U-boat lost in a training collision with U-634

U-272 is a German Type VIIC submarine that sank north of Hel during a training cruise after colliding with another U-boat. It now rests in deep water off the town. Divers come for a Second World War U-boat within a boat ride of the harbour.

Also known as U-Boot 272, U 272.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of U-272: typical dive to 49 m (to 161 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit49 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 60 m (197 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

54.6249° N, 18.8407° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The submarine lies north of Hel at 49 m. It served in the 8th U-boat Flotilla, a training unit, and never reached operational status: on 12 November 1942, on a training cruise, it collided with U-634 and sank, and 29 of its crew died.

The wreck

Vessel
U-272
Type
Type VIIC submarine
Length
67.1 m (220 ft)
Built
1942
Sunk
1942
Cause
Collision with U-634 during a training cruise
Lies
At 49 m north of Hel

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for U-272
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Hel Peninsula: Two bases stay open all year with no set peak; January to March is the coldest stretch, about 2 °C in March.

Sources

  1. Mapa wraków Bałtyku — divingbaltic.pl
  2. German submarine U-272 — Wikipedia

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Bryza

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Desantowiec

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Parowiec HEL

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to 59 madvanced

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