U-1059

Type

VIIF

Ordered

25 Aug, 1941

Laid down

4 Jun, 1942

Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 693)

Launched

12 Mar, 1943

Commissioned

1 May, 1943

Oblt. Herbert Brüninghaus

Commanders

1 May, 1943 - 30 Sep, 1943	Herbert Brüninghaus
1 Oct, 1943 - 19 Mar, 1944	Oblt. Günter Leupold

Career

1 patrol

1 May, 1943 - 31 Dec, 1943 5. Flottille (training)
1 Jan, 1944 - 19 Mar, 1944 12. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

The boat left Bordeaux during March of 1944 with a load of Monsun torpedoes.

Sunk on 19 March, 1944 south-west of the Cape Verde Islands, in position 13.10N, 33.44W by depth charges from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Block Island (VC-6). 47 dead and 8 survivors.

View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat

19 Mar, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: American Avenger (VC-6 USN, pilot Lt(jg) N.T. Dowty)

The sinking of U-1059At 07.26 hours, the boat was attacked by an Avenger/Wildcat team from USS Block Island operating on ULTRA reports southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The aircraft completely suprised U-1059, as she laid stopped and men were seen swimming in the water. While the Wildcat (Lt(jg) W.H. Cole) made a strafing run, the Avenger dropped three depth charges that perfectly straddled the boat. U-1059 began to sink, but the AA gunners scored hits on the Avenger during its second attack run and it crashed into the sea, killing the pilot and one crewman. The mortally wounded pilot had nevertheless dropped two depth charges that sent the boat to the bottom. Ens M.E. Fitzgerald survived the aircraft crash and found himself on a dinghy amidst of German survivors. He helped a wounded survivor but kept the others on distance with his pistol until USS Corry arrived and rescued him and eight German survivors, including the badly wounded commander.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-1059 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.