List of all U-boats

U-502

Type

IXC

 
Ordered25 Sep 1939
Laid down2 Apr 1940 Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 292)
Launched18 Feb 1941
Commissioned31 May 1941Kptlt. Jürgen von Rosenstiel
Commanders
31 May 1941 - 6 Jul 1942  Kptlt. Jürgen von Rosenstiel
Career
4 patrols
31 May 1941-1 Sep 1941  2. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941-6 Jul 1942  2. Flottille (active service)
Successes14 ships sunk, total tonnage 78,843 GRT
2 ships damaged, total tonnage 23,797 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 6 July 1942 in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle, in position 46.10N, 06.40W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (172 Sqn RAF/H). 52 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 16 ships hit by U-502 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-502 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Reissewolf (21 Oct 1941 - 30 Oct 1941)

Attacks on this boat and other events

9 Jun 1942
U-502 was attacked with depth charges by HMS Churchill after sinking two merchant ships from the TO-5 about 40 miles north-north-east of La Guiara, Venezuela. The destroyer dropped 27 depth charges in five attacks that were well placed according to a radio message later sent by the U-boat, but did no damage.

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

6 Jul 1942. This boat was the first U-boat sunk by a Wellington bomber and also the first victim of the Leigh Light A/S searchlight.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-502 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Goat with Flowers

Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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