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German submarine U-597

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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-597
Ordered16 January 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number573
Laid down13 January 1941
Launched1 October 1941
Commissioned20 November 1941
FateSunk southwest of Iceland by a British aircraft on 12 October 1942[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 42 993
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Eberhard Bobst
  • 20 November 1941 – 12 October 1942
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 27 June – 16 August 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 16 September – 12 October 1942
Victories: None

German submarine U-597 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was a member of eight wolfpacks, carried out two patrols but sank no ships.

She was sunk southwest of Iceland by a British aircraft on 12 October 1942.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-597 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-597 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

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The submarine was laid down on 13 January 1941 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 573, launched on 1 October and commissioned on 20 November under the command of Kapitänleutnant Eberhard Bopst.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 20 November 1941 for training and the 1st flotilla from 1 July 1942 for operations.

First patrol

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U-597 departed Kiel on 27 June 1942 and headed for the Atlantic Ocean. Her route took her through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands toward Newfoundland[4]

She arrived in Brest in occupied France on 16 August.

Second patrol and loss

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She departed Brest on 16 September and was sunk less than a month later on 12 October by depth charges dropped by a British B-24 Liberator of No. 120 Squadron RAF piloted by Squadron Leader Terry Bulloch.[5]

Forty-nine men died in U-597; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

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U-597 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

  • Wolf (13 – 30 July 1942)
  • Pirat (30 July – 3 August 1942)
  • Steinbrinck (3 – 11 August 1942)
  • Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942)
  • Tiger (26 – 30 September 1942)
  • Luchs (1 – 6 October 1942)
  • Panther (6 – 12 October 1942)
  • Leopard (12 October 1942)

References

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  1. ^ Kemp 1997, p. 92.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-597". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ The Times Atlas of the World - Third edition, revised 1995, ISBN 0 7230 0809 4, p. 55
  5. ^ "Squadron Leader Terry Bulloch - obituary". Daily Telegraph. 23 November 2014. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.

Bibliography

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