U-571

Type

VIIC

Ordered

24 Oct, 1939

Laid down

8 Jun, 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 547)

Launched

4 Apr, 1941

Commissioned

22 May, 1941

Kptlt. Helmut Möhlmann (Knights Cross)

Commanders

22 May, 1941 - 31 May, 1943	Kptlt. Helmut Möhlmann (Knights Cross)
31 May, 1943 - 28 Jan, 1944	Oblt. Gustav Lüssow

Career

11 patrols

22 May, 1941 - 1 Aug, 1941 3. Flottille (training)
1 Aug, 1941 - 28 Jan, 1944 3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

5 ships sunk for a total of 33.511 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 11.394 GRT
2 ships a total loss for a total of 13.658 GRT

Fate

Sunk 28 Jan, 1944 west of Ireland, in position 52.41N, 14.27W, by depth charges from an Australian Sunderland aircraft (RAAF-Sqdn 461/D). 52 dead (all hands lost).

See the 8 ships hit by U-571 - View the 11 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-571 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Endrass (12 Jun, 1942 - 21 Jun, 1942)
   Veilchen (24 Oct, 1942 - 6 Nov, 1942)
   Adler (7 Apr, 1943 - 12 Apr, 1943)
   Meise (20 Apr, 1943 - 27 Apr, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

22 Mar, 1943
The boat was attacked by an aircraft in the North Atlantic and was damaged so badly that she had to return to base.

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-571 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.