German submarine U-217

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-217
Ordered	16 February 1940
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number	649
Laid down	30 January 1941
Launched	15 November 1941
Commissioned	31 January 1942
Fate	Sunk, 5 June 1943, by US carrier-borne aircraft
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIID submarine
Displacement	965 tonnes (950 long tons) surfaced; 1,080 t (1,060 long tons) submerged;
Length	76.90 m (252 ft 4 in) o/a ; 59.80 m (196 ft 2 in) pressure hull ;
Beam	6.38 m (20 ft 11 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
Draught	5.01 m (16 ft 5 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	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines ; 2 × electric motors ;
Speed	16–16.7 knots (29.6–30.9 km/h; 18.4–19.2 mph) surfaced; 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged;
Range	11,200 nmi (20,700 km; 12,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 69 nmi (128 km; 79 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	200 m (660 ft); Crush depth: 220–240 m (720–790 ft);
Crew	4 officers, 40 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 12 × torpedoes or 26 × TMA or 39 × TMB tube-launched mines; 5 × vertical launchers with 15 SMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 × 20 mm AA (4,380 rounds);
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla ; 31 January – 31 July 1942; 9th U-boat Flotilla ; 1 August 1942 – 5 June 1943;
Identification codes:	M 47 721
Commanders:	Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke; 31 January 1942 – 5 June 1943;
Operations:	3 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 14 July – 16 October 1942; 2nd patrol:; 24 November 1942 – 23 February 1943; 3rd patrol:; 19 April – 5 June 1943;
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk ; (10,651 GRT)

Last updated March 03, 2024

German submarine U-217 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Design

As one of the six German Type VIID submarines, U-217 had a displacement of 965 tonnes (950 long tons) when at the surface and 1,080 tonnes (1,060 long tons) while submerged.^[3] She had a total length of 76.90 m (252 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 59.80 m (196 ft 2 in), a beam of 6.38 m (20 ft 11 in), a height of 9.70 m (31 ft 10 in), and a draught of 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder 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 AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 shaft horsepower (760 PS; 560 kW) 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 16–16.7 knots (29.6–30.9 km/h; 18.4–19.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).^[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 69 nautical miles (128 km; 79 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,200 nautical miles (20,700 km; 12,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-217 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), twelve torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun, in addition to five mine tubes with fifteen SMA mines. The boat had a complement of between forty-four.^[3]

Service history

She was laid down on 30 January 1941, launched on 15 November and commissioned on 31 January 1942, U-217 served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla in a training capacity before moving on to the operational 9th flotilla on 1 August 1942 until she was sunk. U-217 completed three patrols and sank three ships totalling 10,651 gross register tons (GRT).

She was sunk on 5 June 1943 in the mid-Atlantic with all hands by depth charges dropped by Grumman TBF Avengers from the escort carrier Bogue (CVE-9). The wreck lies at 30°18′N042°50′W / 30.300°N 42.833°W / 30.300; -42.833 , near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Wolfpacks

U-217 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Pirat (30 July – 3 August 1942)
Trutz (1 – 5 June 1943)

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate^[4]
19 August 1942	Sea Gull D	United Kingdom	75	Sunk
14 December 1942	Etna	Sweden	2,619	Sunk
3 February 1943	Rhexnor	United Kingdom	7,957	Sunk

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-215 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was one of six U-boats of her kind, equipped with special vertical tubes that launched the mines. Her keel was laid down 15 November 1940 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 647. The U-boat was launched on 9 October 1941 and commissioned on 22 November with Kapitänleutnant Fritz Hoeckner in command.

German submarine U-1227 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-218 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-268 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

German submarine U-214, was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-157</i> (1941) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-157 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 October 1940 at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen, launched on 5 June 1941, and commissioned on 15 September under the command of Korvettenkapitän Wolf Henne. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla, U-157 was transferred to the 2nd U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 3 June 1942.

German submarine U-213 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-216 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down 1 January 1941 by Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 648. She was launched on 23 October 1941 and commissioned on 15 December 1941 with Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Otto Schultz in command.

German submarine U-285 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-999 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-903 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-905 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-926 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-1210 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine U-2520 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 24 August 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2520. She was launched on 16 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albrecht Schubart on 25 December 1944.

German submarine U-2541 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 31 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2541. She was launched on 13 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ernst-August Stellmann on 1 March 1945.

German submarine U-3002 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 23 May 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen as yard number 1161. She was launched on 9 July 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Helmut Manseck on 6 August 1944.

German submarine U-3011 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 14 August 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1170. She was launched on 20 October 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Tinschert on 21 December 1944.

German submarine U-2539 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 27 October 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2539. She was launched on 6 January 1945, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Erich Jewinski on 21 February 1945.

German submarine U-3006 was a Type XXI U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 12 June 1944 at AG Weser, Bremen, as yard number 1165. She was launched on 25 August 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Klaus Popp on 5 October 1944.

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIID boat U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 66–67.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIID boat U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 217". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[uboatnet-1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIID boat U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 December 2009.

[2] Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 December 2009.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199166–67-3] 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 66–67.

[4] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-217". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e German Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in June 1943
Shipwrecks	1 Jun: Birka, John Morgan, U-418 2 Jun: U-105 , U-202 , U-521 3 Jun: Montanan 4 Jun: USS PC-496, U-308 , U-594 5 Jun: U-217 8 Jun: Mutsu 11 Jun: I-24 , U-417 , HMAS Wallaroo 12 Jun: USS R-12, U-118 13 Jun: USCGC Escanaba, I-9 , Suzuya Maru 14 Jun: U-334 , U-564 15 Jun: Sanraku Maru 16 Jun: SS Portmar, U-97 17 Jun: WBS 1 Hermann , I-178 , Yoma 19 Jun: Barbarigo 20 Jun: U-388 22 Jun: I-7 23 Jun: USS Aludra, USS Deimos 24 Jun: U-119 , U-194 , U-200 , U-449 28 Jun: Bari 29 Jun: USS Redwing 30 Jun: USS Hulbert, USS McCawley Unknown date: HMS Kingston, USS Runner
Other incidents	5 Jun: SS Howard M. Hanna Jr. . USS Lapon 16 Jun: I-157 27 Jun: RFA Abbeydale, USS Growler 29 Jun: USS R-14 Unknown date: I-155
1942 1943 1944 May 1943 July 1943

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-217
Ordered	16 February 1940
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number	649
Laid down	30 January 1941
Launched	15 November 1941
Commissioned	31 January 1942
Fate	Sunk, 5 June 1943, by US carrier-borne aircraft
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIID submarine
Displacement	965 tonnes (950 long tons) surfaced 1,080 t (1,060 long tons) submerged
Length	76.90 m (252 ft 4 in) o/a 59.80 m (196 ft 2 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.38 m (20 ft 11 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
Draught	5.01 m (16 ft 5 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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	16–16.7 knots (29.6–30.9 km/h; 18.4–19.2 mph) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range	11,200 nmi (20,700 km; 12,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 69 nmi (128 km; 79 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	200 m (660 ft) Crush depth: 220–240 m (720–790 ft)
Crew	4 officers, 40 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 12 × torpedoes or 26 × TMA or 39 × TMB tube-launched mines 5 × vertical launchers with 15 SMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 20 mm AA (4,380 rounds)
Service record^[1]^[2]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 31 January – 31 July 1942 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1942 – 5 June 1943
Identification codes:	M 47 721
Commanders:	Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke 31 January 1942 – 5 June 1943
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 14 July – 16 October 1942 2nd patrol: 24 November 1942 – 23 February 1943 3rd patrol: 19 April – 5 June 1943
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk (10,651 GRT)