U-217

Type

VIID

 
Ordered16 Feb 1940
Laid down30 Jan 1941 F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 649)
Launched15 Nov 1941
Commissioned31 Jan 1942Oblt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke
Commanders
31 Jan 1942 - 5 Jun 1943  Kptlt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke
Career
3 patrols
31 Jan 1942-31 Jul 1942  5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942-5 Jun 1943  9. Flottille (front boat)
Successes3 ships sunk for a total of 10,651 GRT
Fate

Sunk 5 June, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic, in position 30.18N, 42.50W by depth charges from Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Bogue *. 50 dead (all hands lost).

See the 3 ships hit by U-217 - View the 3 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-217 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Pirat (30 Jul 1942 - 3 Aug 1942)
   Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 5 Jun 1943)

General notes on this boat

That was a successful 3 weeks for the USS Bogue! Two weeks before, 22 May, aircraft from the same escort carrier sank U-569 and one week after sinking U-217 she sank U-118 on 12 June.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-217 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


We have an emblem for this boat!

You can view it here. (The emblem on the left is not the emblem for this boat).



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.