U-1017

Type

VIIC/41

Ordered

23 Mar 1942

Laid down

19 Apr 1943

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 217)

Launched

1 Mar 1944

Commissioned

13 Apr 1944

Kptlt. Viktor Graf von Reventlow-Criminil

Commanders

13 Apr 1944	-	16 Jun 1944		Kptlt. Viktor Graf von Reventlow-Criminil
17 Jun 1944	-	29 Apr 1945		Oblt. (R) Werner Riecken (German Cross in Gold)

Career
2 patrols

13 Apr 1944	-	31 Oct 1944	31. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1944	-	29 Apr 1945	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 10,604 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 29 April 1945 in the North Atlantic north-west of Ireland, in position 56.04N, 11.06W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (120 Sqn RAF/Q). 34 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-1017 - View the 2 war patrols

A Liberator (120 Sqn RAF/Q, pilot F/O H.J. Oliver) spotted the wake and smoke from a snorkel north-west of Ireland and attacked successful with four depth charges and a Fido homing torpedo. The victim was most likely U-1017, but there is a chance that U-398 was sunk in this attack because both boats disappeared without a trace in the same waters.

No official crew list has been located for the last patrol of this boat. Only 34 men have been identified, thus the exact number of dead is unknown (approximately 44).

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in December 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-1017 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.