German submarine U-517

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= U-505chicago.jpg |image_caption=''U-505'', a typical Type IXC boat }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=Nazi Germany |flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}} |name=''U-517'' |ordered=14 February 1940 |builder=Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |yard_number=313 |laid_down=5 June 1941 |launched=30 December 1941 |commissioned=21 March 1942 |homeport= |motto= |nickname= |fate=Sunk on 21 November 1942{{sfn|Gröner|1985|p=110}} |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class=Type IXC submarine |displacement= *{{convert|1120|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced *{{convert|1232|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged |length= *{{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a *{{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull |beam= *{{convert|6.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a *{{convert|4.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull |height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |draught={{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |power= *{{convert|4400|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels) *{{convert|1000|PS|kW shp|-1|abbr=on}} (electric) |propulsion= *2 shafts *2 × diesel engines *2 × electric motors |speed= *{{convert|18.3|kn|lk=in}} surfaced *{{convert|7.3|kn}} submerged |range= *{{convert|13450|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced *{{convert|63|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged |test_depth= *{{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}} |complement=4 officers, 44 enlisted |armament= *6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) *22 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedoes *1 × {{convert|10.5|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds) *1 × {{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30 AA gun *1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns |notes= }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/service record |partof= *4th U-boat Flotilla 21 March – 31 August 1942 *10th U-boat Flotilla 1 September – 21 November 1942 |codes=M 41 996 |commanders= *''Kptlt.'' Paul Hartwig 21 March – 21 November 1942 |operations=*2 patrols: **1st patrol: 8 August – 19 October 1942 **2nd patrol: 17 – 21 November 1942 |victories= *8 merchant ships sunk ({{GRT|26,383}}) *1 warship sunk (900 tons) }} }}

'''German submarine ''U-517''''' was a Type IXC U-boat of the Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II.

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as yard number 313 on 5 June 1941, launched on 30 December 1941 and commissioned on 21 March 1942 with ''Kapitänleutnant'' Paul Hartwig in command.

''U-517'' began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 21 March 1942. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 September.

She carried out two patrols and sank eight ships. She was sunk by British carrier aircraft on 21 November 1942.

==Design== German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. ''U-517'' had a displacement of {{convert|1120|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1232|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|4400|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|1000|shp|PS kW|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.92|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|18.3|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.3|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|63|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|13450|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ''U-517'' was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one {{convert|10.5|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a {{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30 as well as a {{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

==Service history==

===First patrol===

Sources:<ref>Bezemer, p. 594-597</ref><ref>Blair, p. 685-687</ref><ref>Rohwer, p.158</ref>

The boat departed Kiel on 8 August 1942, moved through the North Sea and negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean and attacked Allied shipping in the area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'' - Third edition, revised 1995, {{ISBN|0 7230 0809 4}}, p. 55</ref> Two other type IXC boats ''{{GS|U-165|1941|2}}'' and ''{{GS|U-513||2}}'' left Kiel at about the same time to patrol the same area. These boats were to check if North Atlantic convoys were diversing North, through Canadian waters. to avoid the U-boat packs patrolling in the North Atlantic.

On 27 August the ''U-517'' makes contact with the fast section of convoy SG-6 and sinks the troop transport Chatham, whilst the ''U-165'' attacks the other section of the convoy. On 28 August ''U-517'' finishes off the freighter Arlyn which was damaged earlier by ''U-165''.

''U-517'' and ''U-165'' move further inland into the St Lawrence river in search of assembly areas of convoys but find nothing. Only on 3 September the U-517 found 2 coastal convoys NL-6 and LN-7. From convoy NL-6, the U-517 sank the ''Donald Stewart'' northeast of Cape Whittle. The Canadian escort {{HMCS|Weyburn|K173|6}} tried to ram, but the distance between the two vessels was too great. ''U-517'' then evaded a depth charge pattern. A few hours later, she was attacked by a Digby aircraft of No. 10 Squadron RCAF; but the depth charges detonated prematurely, causing more damage to the aircraft than to the U-boat.

On 7 September, ''U-517'' was able to sink 3 ships out of convoy QS-33, which was detected and attacked by ''U-165'' the day before.

The submarine subsequently sank the Canadian corvette {{HMCS|Charlottetown|1941|6}} about {{convert|5|nmi}} off Cap-Chat on 11 September.

On 15 September ''U-517'' finds the convoy SQ-36 and sinks 2 ships out of that convoy. She brings up ''U-165'' which can also attack and damage 2 ships.

''U-517'' has no further success in attacks on subsequent convoys and evades on 21 September a ramming attack by the minesweeper Georgian which is part of the convoy escort for SQ-38

''U-517'' docked at Lorient in occupied France on 19 October 1942.

===Second patrol and loss=== The boat departed Lorient on 17 November 1942 and sailed west. She was hardly out of the Bay of Biscay when she was sunk by Fairey Albacores of 817 Naval Air Squadron from the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Victorious|R38|6}} on 21 November 1942.

One man died; there were 52 survivors.{{sfn|Gröner|1985|p=110}}

==Summary of raiding history== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" |- ! width="120px"|Date ! width="120px" |Name ! width="160px"|Nationality ! width="25px" |Tonnage<ref group=Note name=tonnage>Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.</ref> ! width="50px" |Fate<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u517.html |title=Ships hit by U-517 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=29 January 2014 }}</ref> |- |align="right"|27 August 1942 |align="left" |''Chatham'' |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}} |align="right"|5,649 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|28 August 1942 |align="left" |''Arlyn'' |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}} |align="right"|3,304 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|3 September 1942 |align="left" |''Donald Stewart'' |align="left" |{{flag|Canada|1921}} |align="right"|1,781 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|7 September 1942 |align="left" |''Mount Pindus'' |align="left" |{{flag|Greece}} |align="right"|5,729 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|7 September 1942 |align="left" |''Mount Taygetus'' |align="left" |{{flag|Greece}} |align="right"|3,286 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|7 September 1942 |align="left" |''Oakton'' |align="left" |{{flag|Canada|1921}} |align="right"|1,727 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|11 September 1942 |align="left" |{{HMCS|Charlottetown|1941|6}} |align="left" |{{navy|Canada|1911}} |align="right"|900 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|15 September 1942 |align="left" |''Inger Elisabeth'' |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|2,166 |align="left" |Sunk |- |align="right"|15 September 1942 |align="left" |''Saturnus'' |align="left" |{{flag|Netherlands}} |align="right"|2,741 |align="left" |Sunk |}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations=== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== {{Refbegin}} *{{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |translator-last=Brooks |translator-first=Geoffrey |title=German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary |publisher=Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press |location=London, Annapolis, Md |year=1999 |isbn=1-55750-186-6}} *{{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 |trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |series=Der U-Boot-Krieg |volume=IV |publisher=Mittler |location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |year=1999 |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |language=de}} *{{Cite book |last=Gröner |first=Erich |title=Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815–1945 / 3, U-Boote, Hilfskreuzer, Minenschiffe, Netzleger, Sperrbrecher. |date=1985 |publisher=Bernard & Graefe |isbn=3-7637-4802-4 |location=Koblenz |language=de |oclc=310610321}} *{{cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Erich |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |translator-last1=Thomas |translator-first1=Keith |translator-last2=Magowan |translator-first2=Rachel |year=1991 |title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |volume=2 |series=German Warships 1815–1945 |location=London |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |ref=CITEREFGröner1991}} *{{Cite book |last=Rohwer |first=J. |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945 |last2=Hummelchen |first2=G. |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1992 |isbn=1-55750-105-X}} *{{Cite book |last=Blair |first=Clay |title=Hitler's U-Boat War [Volume 2]: The Hunted 1942–1945 |publisher=Cassell |year= |isbn=0-304-35261-6}} *{{Cite book |last=Bezemer |first=K.W.L. |title=Geschiedenis van de Nederlands koopvaardij in de Tweede Wereldoorlog |publisher=Elsevier |year=1987 |isbn=90-10-06040-3 |edition=3rd |location=Amsterdam |language=NL}}

==External links== *{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u517.htm |title=The Type IXC boat U-517 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |access-date=7 December 2014 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0517}} Category:German Type IX submarines Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942 Category:U-boats sunk in 1942 Category:World War II submarines of Germany Category:1941 ships Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean Category:Ships built in Hamburg Category:U-boats sunk by British aircraft Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges Category:Maritime incidents in November 1942