U-593
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 16 Jan 1940 | |||
| Laid down | 17 Dec 1940 | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 569) | ||
| Launched | 3 Sep 1941 | |||
| Commissioned | 23 Oct 1941 | Kptlt. Gerd Kelbling (Knights Cross) | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 16 patrols | 23 Oct 1941 - 28 Feb 1942 8. Flottille (training) 1 Mar 1942 - 31 Oct 1942 7. Flottille (front boat) 1 Nov 1942 - 13 Dec 1943 29. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 9 ships sunk for a total of 38,290 GRT 3 warships sunk for a total of 2,902 tons 1 ship damaged for a total of 4,853 GRT 1 warship damaged for a total of 1,625 tons 1 ship a total loss for a total of 8,426 GRT 1 warship a total loss for a total of 1,625 tons | |||
| Fate | Sunk 13 Dec, 1943 after a 32 hour-chase in the western Mediterranean in Bougie Bay, in position 37.38N, 05.58E, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS Wainwright and the British escort destroyer HMS Calpe. 51 survivors (No casualties). | |||
See the 16 ships hit by U-593 - View the 16 war patrols
Wolfpack operations
U-593 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Tümmler (3 Oct 1942 - 11 Oct 1942)
Attacks on this boat
12 Nov 1942
The boat sank the British freighter Browning and was hunted for 16 hours by Allied escorts for her efforts. She nonetheless escaped. (Clay Blair, lists this in his book as the U-595 but U-593 sank the Browning) (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 99)
19 Apr 1943
At 09.37 hours, the boat was bombed and damaged by a Hudson aircraft (RAAF-Sqdn 459) in the Mediterranean. (Sources: Rohwer)
5 Aug 1943
At 14.55 hours, the boat was attacked by 3 American P-40 Warhawk fighters (USAAF, 325th FG) off Sardinia in the Mediterranean. The boat suffered a number of machine gun hits in the bridge area and returned to Toulon 3 days later. (Sources: Book "Checkertail Clan, the 325th Fighter Group in North Africa and Italy": pages 28-29.
Dr. Axel Niestle via e-mail on 23 April, 2006.)
13 Dec 1943
At 00.30 hours the boat was attacked by the Wellington aircraft MP816 (36 Sqdn RAF/B, pilot F/O C.F. Parker) northeast of Bone during a Swamp Operation to locate the U-boat that had torpedoed HMS Tynedale and HMS Holcombe on 12 December. The aircraft approached the U-boat after a radar contact but the Leigh Light failed and it was hit in the port wing and tailplane by very accurate AA fire. The rear gunner fired 600 rounds at U-593 and a sighing report was made that let to the sinking of the U-boat. The damaged aircraft safely landed at Bone. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
4 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-593 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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