U-569

Type

VIIC

Ordered

24 Oct 1939

Laid down

21 May 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 545)

Launched

20 Mar 1941

Commissioned

8 May 1941

Oblt. Hans-Peter Hinsch

Commanders

8 May 1941	-	6 Feb 1943		Kptlt. Hans-Peter Hinsch
3 Feb 1943	-	22 May 1943		Oblt. (R) Hans Johannsen

Career
9 patrols

8 May 1941	-	1 Aug 1941	3. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1941	-	22 May 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 984 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 4,458 GRT

Fate

Scuttled on 22 May 1943 in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland, in position 50.40N, 35.21W, after being badly damaged by depth charges from two Avenger aircraft (VC-9 USN/T-6 & T-7) of the US escort carrier USS Bogue. 21 dead and 25 survivors.

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-569 - View the 9 war patrols

The end of U 569

USS Bogue's first victim: Lt. Chamberlain's attack on U-569 as viewed from the rear of his aircraft. Note falling depth charges. Another Avenger aircraft finished the kill.

U-569 is sinking, as viewed from the HMCS St. Laurent.

Wolfpack operations

U-569 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Grönland (14 Aug 1941 - 27 Aug 1941)
   Markgraf (27 Aug 1941 - 16 Sep 1941)
   Schlagetot (20 Oct 1941 - 1 Nov 1941)
   Raubritter (1 Nov 1941 - 8 Nov 1941)
   Westwall (2 Mar 1942 - 12 Mar 1942)
   York (12 Mar 1942 - 26 Mar 1942)
   Hecht (8 May 1942 - 18 Jun 1942)
   Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 21 Sep 1942)
   Draufgänger (1 Dec 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (11 Dec 1942 - 22 Dec 1942)
   Robbe (16 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
   Amsel 3 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Elbe 1 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 22 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

16 Dec 1941
The boat was damaged so badly in an attack by a Swordfish aircraft in mid Atlantic that she had to return to France for repairs instead of continuing to the Mediterranean. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 402)

25 Aug 1942
At 11.10 hrs HNoMS Potentilla obtained a radar contact when returning to convoy ONS 122 which was initially thought to be a merchant ship, but while circling it in bad visibility the hydrophone operator reported that the contact was definitely a U-boat. While the corvette headed at full speed towards it the fog lifted and U-569 was sighted directly ahead. The commander intended to ram the U-boat but the gunners of the 4in gun opened fire without orders and lost the element of surprise. No hits were observed from the five 4in rounds fired, but shells from the 20mm AA guns were seen to hit U-569, which crash-dived immediately. The corvette dropped her last three light depth charges ahead of the swirl and swept the area without Asdic contact until returning to the convoy about 13.00 hrs. The U-boat had dived to 130m and was not damaged by the depth charges, but on surfacing more than five hours later several cannon hits were found on the conning tower. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-569)

23 Feb 1943
Depth charges from the escorts of convoy UC 1 caused so much damage that the boat was forced to return to France. Date is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 198)

3 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-569 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.