Axel-Olaf Loewe

Korvettenkapitän (Crew 28)


Successes
7 ships sunk, total tonnage 37,832 GRT

Born  3 Jan 1909 Kiel
Died  18 Dec 1984(75)


Ranks

10 Oct 1928 Seekadett
1 Jan 1930 Fähnrich zur See
1 Oct 1932 Leutnant zur See
1 Sep 1934 Oberleutnant zur See
1 Jun 1937 Kapitänleutnant
1 Jun 1942 Korvettenkapitän

Decorations

U-boat Commands

U-boatFromTo
U-505 26 Aug 1941 5 Sep 1942   3 patrols (182 days) 

Axel-Olaf Loewe joined the German Navy (Reichsmarine) in 1928. He served with the Naval Academy until Sept 1939. From Oct 1939 to Oct 1940 he was on staff of OKW/Wehrmacht (Armed Services High Command).

Kptlt. Loewe began U-boat training in Nov 1940 and finished in April 1941. He was assigned as U-boat commander in training (Kommandantenschüler) to U-74 (Kentrat) on a patrol from 8 - 30 May 1941. Having gained valuable sea experience on a combat U-boat he was sent for U-boat construction familiarization (Baubelehrung) in preparation for his own command July - Aug 1941.

Kptlt. Axel-Olaf Loewe commissioned the new type IXC U-boat U-505 on 26 August 1941. He was very successful during his 13 months of command, sinking seven ships of almost 38,000 GRT on three patrols. On his second patrol he sank four ships during 86 days when he went deep into the South Atlantic.

After handing over U-505 on 5 Sept 1941 to Oblt. Peter Zschech (who would have a part in making the boat famous for inglorious reasons) Loewe served on the operations staff of U-boat command (BdU) until July 1944.

From July 1944 to April 1945 he was assigned to the Ministry for Armaments and Production under Albert Speer. He ended the war serving in a naval anti-tank regiment. He was detained after the surrender, but freed on 30 Dec 1945.

Sources

Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II.

Patrol info for Axel-Olaf Loewe

 U-boat Departure Arrival  
1. U-505 19 Jan 1942  Kiel  3 Feb 1942  Lorient  Patrol 1,16 days
2. U-505 11 Feb 1942  Lorient  7 May 1942  Lorient  Patrol 2,86 days
3. U-505 7 Jun 1942  Lorient  25 Aug 1942  Lorient  Patrol 3,80 days
3 patrols, 182 days at sea

Ships hit by Axel-Olaf Loewe

Date U-boat Name of ship Tons Nat. Convoy
5 Mar 1942U-505 Benmohr5,920br
6 Mar 1942U-505 Sydhav7,587nw
3 Apr 1942U-505 West Irmo5,775am
4 Apr 1942U-505 Alphacca5,759nl
28 Jun 1942U-505 Sea Thrush5,447am
29 Jun 1942U-505 Thomas McKean7,191am
22 Jul 1942U-505 Urious153co
 37,832

7 ships sunk (37,832 tons).

Legend
We have a picture of this vessel.

Media links


German U-boat Commanders of World War II

Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans-Joachim

Listing of all U-boat commanders


As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.