German submarine U-517

Last updated

U-505chicago.jpg
U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-517
Ordered14 February 1940
Builder Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number313
Laid down5 June 1941
Launched30 December 1941
Commissioned21 March 1942
FateSunk on 21 November 1942 southwest of Ireland by British carrier aircraft [1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120  t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450  nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 996
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Paul Hartwig
  • 21 March – 21 November 1942
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 8 August – 19 October 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 17 – 21 November 1942
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (26,383  GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (900 tons)

German submarine U-517 was a Type IXC U-boat of the Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Contents

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as yard number 313 on 5 June 1941, launched on 30 December 1941 and commissioned on 21 March 1942 with Kapitänleutnant Paul Hartwig in command.

U-517 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 21 March 1942. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 September.

She carried out two patrols and sank eight ships. She was sunk by British carrier aircraft on 21 November 1942.

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-517 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged. [2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). [2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-517 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight. [2]

Service history

First patrol

Sources: [3] [4] [5]

The boat departed Kiel on 8 August 1942, moved through the North Sea and negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean and attacked Allied shipping in the area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. [6] Two other type IXC boats U-165 and U-513 left Kiel at about the same time to patrol the same area. These boats were to check if North Atlantic convoys were diversing North, through Canadian waters. to avoid the U-boat packs patrolling in the North Atlantic.

On 27 August the U-517 makes contact with the fast section of convoy SG-6 and sinks the troop transport Chatham, whilst the U-165 attacks the other section of the convoy. On 28 August U-517 finishes off the freighter Arlyn which was damaged earlier by U-165.

U-517 and U-165 move further inland into the St Lawrence river in search of assembly areas of convoys but find nothing. Only on 3 September the U-517 found 2 coastal convoys NL-6 and LN-7. From convoy NL-6, the U-517 sank the Donald Stewart northeast of Cape Whittle. The Canadian escort HMCS Weyburn tried to ram, but the distance between the two vessels was too great. U-517 then evaded a depth charge pattern. A few hours later, she was attacked by a Digby aircraft of No. 10 Squadron RCAF; but the depth charges detonated prematurely, causing more damage to the aircraft than to the U-boat.

On 7 September, U-517 was able to sink 3 ships out of convoy QS-33, which was detected and attacked by U-165 the day before.

The submarine subsequently sank the Canadian corvette HMCS Charlottetown about 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) off Cap-Chat on 11 September.

On 15 September U-517 finds the convoy SQ-36 and sinks 2 ships out of that convoy. She brings up U-165 which can also attack and damage 2 ships.

U-517 has no further success in attacks on subsequent convoys and evades on 21 September a ramming attack by the minesweeper Georgian which is part of the convoy escort for SQ-38

U-517 docked at Lorient in occupied France on 19 October 1942.

Second patrol and loss

The boat departed Lorient on 17 November 1942 and sailed west. She was hardly out of the Bay of Biscay when she was sunk by Fairey Albacores of 817 Naval Air Squadron from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious on 21 November 1942.

One man died; there were 52 survivors. [1]

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [7]
27 August 1942 Chatham Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 5,649Sunk
28 August 1942 Arlyn Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 3,304Sunk
3 September 1942 Donald Stewart Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 1,781Sunk
7 September 1942 Mount Pindus Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 5,729Sunk
7 September 1942 Mount Taygetus Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 3,286Sunk
7 September 1942 Oakton Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 1,727Sunk
11 September 1942 HMCS Charlottetown Naval ensign of Canada.svg  Royal Canadian Navy 900Sunk
15 September 1942 Inger Elisabeth Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,166Sunk
15 September 1942 Saturnus Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2,741Sunk

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 Gröner 1985, p. 110.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  3. ↑ Bezemer, p. 594-597
  4. ↑ Blair, p. 685-687
  5. ↑ Rohwer, p.158
  6. ↑ The Times Atlas of the World - Third edition, revised 1995, ISBN   0 7230 0809 4, p. 55
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-517". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.

Bibliography

46°16′N17°09′W / 46.267°N 17.150°W / 46.267; -17.150

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