U-576

Type

VIIC

Ordered

8 Jan, 1940

Laid down

1 Aug, 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 552)

Launched

30 Apr, 1941

Commissioned

26 Jun, 1941

Kptlt. Hans-Dieter Heinicke

Commanders

26 Jun, 1941 - 15 Jul, 1942

Kptlt. Hans-Dieter Heinicke

Career

4 patrols

26 Jun, 1941 - 1 Sep, 1941 7. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1941 - 15 Jul, 1942 7. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

4 ships sunk for a total of 15.450 GRT
2 ships damaged for a total of 19.457 GRT

Fate

Sunk 15 July, 1942 in the north Atlantic near Cape Hatteras, USA, in position 34.51N, 75.22W, by depth charges from 2 US Kingfisher aircraft (VC-9) and ramming by the US motor vessel Unicoi. 45 dead (all hands lost).

See the 6 ships hit by U-576 - View the 4 war patrols

General notes on this boat

The loss of U-576
It was on 15 July 1942 when convoy KS-520 proceeding from Norfolk to Key West, Florida came across the U-576. The U-576 attacked hitting 3 ships – sinking one and damaging two. The U-576 was hit by the deck gun from the USS Unicoi and bombed by 2 VS-9 Kingfisher aircraft for the kill. The planes were piloted by ENS. Frank C. Lewis and Charles D. Webb of the VS-9D4, NAS Cherry Point NC. They were part of the Eastern Sea Frontier Inshore Patrol Squadron.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-576 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.