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

U-boat Commands

U-boat	From	To
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
5 Mar 1942	U-505	Benmohr	5,920	br
6 Mar 1942	U-505	Sydhav	7,587	nw
3 Apr 1942	U-505	West Irmo	5,775	am
4 Apr 1942	U-505	Alphacca	5,759	nl
28 Jun 1942	U-505	Sea Thrush	5,447	am
29 Jun 1942	U-505	Thomas McKean	7,191	am
22 Jul 1942	U-505	Urious	153	co
			37,832
7 ships sunk (37,832 tons). Legend We have a picture of this vessel.