U-575

Type

VIIC

Ordered

8 Jan 1940

Laid down

1 Aug 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 551)

Launched

30 Apr 1941

Commissioned

19 Jun 1941

Kptlt. Günther Heydemann (Oak Leaves)

Commanders

19 Jun 1941	-	29 Jul 1943		Kptlt. Günther Heydemann (Knights Cross)
12 Sep 1943	-	13 Mar 1944		Oblt. Wolfgang Boehmer

Career
10 patrols

19 Jun 1941	-	31 Aug 1941	7. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941	-	13 Mar 1944	7. Flottille (active service)

Successes

8 ships sunk, total tonnage 36,010 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,015 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 12,910 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 13 March 1944 in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, in position 46.18N, 27.34W, by depth charges and gunfire from the Canadian frigate HMCS Prince Rupert, the US destroyer USS Hobson, the US destroyer escort USS Haverfield, and by depth charges and rockets from a British Wellington (172 Sqn RAF/B), two British Fortress (206 Sqn RAF/R & 220 Sqn RAF/J) and an Avenger aircraft (VC-95 USN/T-3) of the US escort carrier USS Bogue. 18 dead and 37 survivors.

Loss position

See the 10 ships hit by U-575 - View the 10 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-575 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Brandenburg (15 Sep 1941 - 26 Sep 1941)
   Steuben (14 Nov 1941 - 2 Dec 1941)
   Endrass (12 Jun 1942 - 17 Jun 1942)
   Tiger (26 Sep 1942 - 27 Sep 1942)
   Luchs (27 Sep 1942 - 6 Oct 1942)
   Panther (6 Oct 1942 - 16 Oct 1942)
   Puma (16 Oct 1942 - 22 Oct 1942)
   Delphin (26 Dec 1942 - 14 Feb 1943)
   Amsel 1 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Elbe (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Elbe 1 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 3 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Jahn (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 3 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 4 (9 Nov 1943 - 15 Nov 1943)
   Preussen (2 Mar 1944 - 13 Mar 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

7 Oct 1941
Two bombs from an aircraft in mid Atlantic caused minor damage.

9 Dec 1941
While inbound to refuel at Vigo, Spain the boat was located and depth charged. On arriving at Vigo two days later the damage was found to be so severe that the boat returned to France instead of proceeding to the Mediterranean. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 402)

21 Nov 1943
At 07.40 hrs the boat was approached by a Leigh Light Liberator and opened fire with the AA guns. The aircraft withdrew without dropping bombs and U-575 dived unscathed. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

10 Mar 1944
After sinking HMS Asphodel (K 56) the boat was hunted by escorts from combined convoy MKS 41/SL 150 for 18 hours, but managed to escape. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 504)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.