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German submarine U-587
Career (Nazi Germany) War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945
Name: U-587
Ordered: 16 January 1940
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number: 563
Laid down: 31 October 1940
Launched: 23 July 1941
Commissioned: 11 September 1941
Fate: Sunk 27 March 1942 in the North Atlantic in position 47°21′N 21°39′W / 47.35°N 21.65°W / 47.35; -21.65, by depth charges from Royal Navy surface ships.
General characteristics
Class & type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
  • Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
  • Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
    Draught: 4.74 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:
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
  • 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)
  • Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
    Armament:
    Service record[1]
    Part of:
    Commanders:
    • K.Kapt. Ulrich Borcherdt
    • 11 September 1941 – 27 March 1942
    Operations:
    • 1st patrol: 8–31 January 1942
    • 2nd patrol: 12 February – 27 March 1942
    Victories:
    • 4 merchant ships sunk (22,734 GRT)
    • 1 warship sunk (655 tons)

    German submarine U-587 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 31 October 1940 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 563, launched on 23 July 1941 and commissioned on 11 September 1941 under Korvettenkapitän Ulrich Borcherdt.

    Design[]

    German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-587 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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).[2]

    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).[2] 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-587 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

    Service history[]

    The boat's short service career began on 11 September 1941 with training, followed by active service on 1 January 1942 as part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla. It ended just 3 months later when she was sunk in the North Atlantic.

    In four patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 22,734 gross register tons (GRT), plus one auxiliary warship sunk.

    Wolfpacks[]

    U-587 took part in one wolfpack, namely

    • Robbe (15–24 January 1942)

    Fate[]

    U-587 was sunk on 27 March 1942 in the North Atlantic in position 47°21′N 21°39′W / 47.35°N 21.65°W / 47.35; -21.65Coordinates: 47°21′N 21°39′W / 47.35°N 21.65°W / 47.35; -21.65; depth charged by Royal Navy vessels HMS Grove, Aldenham, Volunteer and Leamington. There were no survivors.

    Summary of raiding history[]

    Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
    24 February 1942 Anadara Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 8,009 Sunk
    6 March 1942 Hans Egede Denmark Greenland 900 Sunk
    8 March 1942 HMS Northern Princess Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom Royal Navy 655 Sunk
    9 March 1942 Lily Flag of Greece Greece 5,719 Sunk
    23 March 1942 Diala Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 8,106 Sunk

    References[]

    Notes[]

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

    Citations[]

    1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-587". http://uboat.net/boats/u587.html. Retrieved 25 June 2014. 
    2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
    3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-587". http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u587.html. Retrieved 25 June 2014. 

    Bibliography[]

    • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6. 
    • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999) (in German). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 
    • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 137, 138, 167–169. ISBN 0-304-35203-9. 
    • Gröner, ErichExpression error: Unexpected < operator. (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 2. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 
    • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9. 

    External links[]

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