U-513

Type

IXC

Ordered

14 Feb 1940

Laid down

26 Apr 1941

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 309)

Launched

29 Oct 1941

Commissioned

10 Jan 1942

Korvkpt. Rolf Rüggeberg

Commanders

10 Jan 1942	-	14 May 1943		Rolf Rüggeberg
15 May 1943	-	19 Jul 1943		Kptlt. Friedrich Guggenberger (Knights Cross)

Career
4 patrols

10 Jan 1942	-	31 Aug 1942	4. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942	-	19 Jul 1943	10. Flottille (active service)

Successes

6 ships sunk, total tonnage 29,940 GRT
2 ships damaged, total tonnage 13,177 GRT

Fate

Sunk 19 July, 1943 in the South Atlantic south-east of Sao Francisco do Sul, in position 27.17S, 47.32W, by depth charges from a US Mariner aircraft (VP-74/P-5). 46 dead and 7 survivors.

Loss position

See the 8 ships hit by U-513 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-513 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Unverzagt (12 Mar 1943 - 19 Mar 1943)
Seeräuber (25 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)

Attacks on this boat

3 Apr 1943
The boat was attacked by a British Hudson aircraft (RAF Sqdn 233 / U) with 2 bombs north of the Canary Islands and suffered minor damage. (Sources: Rohwer)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

July 2011
The wreck of the U-513, sunk off Sao Francisco do Sul, Brazil on 19 July 1943 has been located. The boat was located by the Schurmann family. They have a nice website, u-513.com, dealing with the discovery. The boat apparently lies in 75 meters of water. You can also see our map of the South Atlantic for its position.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-513 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.