U-971

Type

Sunk on 24 June 1944 in the English Channel south of Land's End, in position 49.01N, 05.35W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Eskimo, the Canadian Destroyer HMCS Haida and a Czech Liberator aircraft (311 Sqn RAF/O). 1 dead and 51 survivors.

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat and other events

15 Jun 1944
The boat repelled an attack by a British Sunderland flying boat (4 OTU RAF) while passing near the Faroe Islands by night. No damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 590)

20 Jun 1944
A Canadian Wellington bomber (407 Sqdn RCAF, pilot F.H. Foster) approached using the Leigh Light and depth charged the boat, damaging three out of four bow torpedo tubes. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 590)

21 Jun 1944
For the third time on this patrol the boat was attacked by Allied aircraft. On this day two more attacked; a British Sunderland flying boat (228 Sqdn RAF) and a British Halifax bomber (502 Sqdn RAF), causing yet more damage to the boat. The boat still continued on patrol, and was sunk by aircraft three days later while en route to base at Brest, France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 590)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in April 1944.

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-971 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.