U-706

Type

VIIC

Ordered

9 Oct 1939

Laid down

22 Nov 1940

H C Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg (werk 766)

Launched

24 Nov 1941

Commissioned

16 Mar 1942

Kptlt. Alexander von Zitzewitz

Commanders

16 Mar 1942

2 Aug 1943

KrvKpt. Alexander von Zitzewitz

Career
5 patrols

16 Mar 1942	-	30 Sep 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942	-	2 Aug 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 18,650 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 2 August 1943 in the North Atlantic north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 46.15N, 10.25W, by depth charges from a US Liberator aircraft (4th A/S Sqn USAAF/T) and a Canadian Hampden aicraft (415 Sqn RCAF/A). 42 dead and 4 survivors.

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-706 - View the 5 war patrols

The Canadian Hampden aircraft dropped the first depth charges on U-706 and the US Liberator then sank the damaged boat.

Wolfpack operations

U-706 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Luchs (1 Oct 1942 - 6 Oct 1942)
   Panther (6 Oct 1942 - 20 Oct 1942)
   Südwärts (24 Oct 1942 - 26 Oct 1942)
   Falke (28 Dec 1942 - 4 Jan 1943)
   Jaguar (18 Jan 1943 - 31 Jan 1943)
   Seeteufel (23 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Löwenherz (1 Apr 1943 - 10 Apr 1943)
   Lerche (10 Apr 1943 - 16 Apr 1943)
   Meise (16 Apr 1943 - 22 Apr 1943)
   Specht (22 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)

Men lost from the boat

27 Oct 1942
Three men were washed overboard: two died but the third was rescued by U-463. [Leutnant zur See Erich Eichmann, see right, Matrosenobergefreiter Ralf Köhler]

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -