U-565

Type

VIIC

Ordered

24 Oct 1939

Laid down

30 Mar 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 541)

Launched

20 Feb 1941

Commissioned

10 Apr 1941

Oblt. Johann Jebsen

Commanders

10 Apr 1941	-	17 Mar 1942	Oblt. Johann Jebsen (German Cross in Gold)
17 Mar 1942	-	7 Oct 1943	Kptlt. Wilhelm Franken (Knights Cross)
8 Oct 1943	-	24 Sep 1944	Kptlt. Fritz Henning (German Cross in Gold)

Career
20 patrols

10 Apr 1941	-	1 Jul 1941	1. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1941	-	31 Dec 1941	1. Flottille (active service)
1 Jan 1942	-	24 Sep 1944	29. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 11,347 GRT
2 warships sunk, total tonnage 6,990 tons
2 ships damaged, total tonnage 17,565 GRT

Fate

Scuttled on 30 September 1944 with three depth charges in the Skaramanga Bay, in position 37.59N, 23.34E, after being badly damaged by bombs during US air raids (15th AF) in Salamis on 19 and 24 September 1944. 5 dead, unknown number of survivors.

Loss position

See the 7 ships hit by U-565 - View the 20 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-565 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Arnauld (5 Nov 1941 - 18 Nov 1941)
Wal (10 Nov 1942 - 12 Nov 1942)

Attacks on this boat and other events

5 Oct 1941
11.02 hrs, Bay of Biscay, inbound: Blenheim Z7406 (1404 MetFlt RAF/A, pilot P/O Jack Coleman) sighted U-565 while searching for U-563 after unsuccessfully attacking her 30 minutes earlier. A 250lb A/S bomb dropped in a head-on attack actually hit the net deflector and conning tower of the diving U-boat and bounced off without exploding. The aircrew apparently misinterpreted the rapid dive of the U-boat at steep angle and claimed a sinking, but the boat in fact escaped unscathed. (Sources: KTB U-565/ADM 199-1782)

23 Apr 1942
Mediterranean, off Sidi Barrani: a British aircraft dropped three bombs on the boat which caused only slight damage.

1 Nov 1942
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Hudson AE591 (233 Sqn RAF, pilot Sgt D.H. Jenkins)

12.50 hrs, Mediterranean, south of the Balearic Isles: British Hudson Mk.III V9169 (233 Sqn RAF, pilot F/S S. Woodward) dropped four depth charges on the diving boat which detonated near the bows and forced U-565 back to the surface with severe damage. The AA gunners immediately scored hits on the tail of the aircraft, causing an A/S bomb to fall wide. The heavily damaged Hudson then left the area after receiving more hits during a third attack run. Another Hudson from the same squadron arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, was also hit by flak on the first attack run, caught fire and crashed into the sea 500m (1,640ft) from the boat. The three depth charges dropped exploded harmlessly.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

10 Nov 1942
After being battered by depth charges in the Mediterranean, the periscope of U-565 was damaged so severely that the boat was forced return to base.

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-565 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.