U-574

Type

VIIC

Ordered

24 Oct 1939

Laid down

15 Jun 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 550)

Launched

12 Apr 1941

Commissioned

12 Jun 1941

Oblt. Dietrich Gengelbach

Commanders

12 Jun 1941

19 Dec 1941

Oblt. Dietrich Gengelbach

Career
1 patrol

12 Jun 1941	-	1 Nov 1941	1. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1941	-	19 Dec 1941	1. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,190 tons

Fate

Sunk on 19 December 1941 in the North Atlantic east of Ponta Delgada, Azores, in position 38.12N, 17.23W, by ramming and depth charges from the British sloop HMS Stork. 28 dead and 16 survivors.

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-574 - View the 1 war patrol

U-574 was sunk by ramming and depth charges from the British sloop HMS Stork in the North Atlantic east of Ponta Delgada, Azores. According to the British interrogation of survivors, U-574's commander, Oblt Gengelbach only agreed to surface for the crew to escape after a violent argument with the Engineering Officer, OL Lorentz. It was claimed OL Lorentz then shot himself after commencing scuttling. Oblt Gengelbach was seen to go below from the bridge and went down with his boat. Source: Admiralty Interrogation Report CB 04051 (36)

Wolfpack operations

U-574 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Steuben (14 Nov 1941 - 1 Dec 1941)
Seeräuber (14 Dec 1941 - 19 Dec 1941)

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-574 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.