U-502
Type | IXC | |||
| Ordered | 25 Sep, 1939 | |||
| Laid down | 2 Apr, 1940 | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 292) | ||
| Launched | 18 Feb, 1941 | |||
| Commissioned | 31 May, 1941 | Kptlt. Jürgen von Rosenstiel | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 4 patrols | 31 May, 1941 - 1 Sep, 1941 2. Flottille (training) 1 Sep, 1941 - 5 Jul, 1942 2. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 14 ships sunk for a total of 78.843 GRT 2 ships damaged for a total of 23.797 GRT | |||
| Fate | Sunk 6 July, 1942 in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle, in position 46.10N, 06.40W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (Sqdn 172/H). 52 dead (all hands lost). | |||
See the 16 ships hit by U-502 - View the 4 war patrols
General notes on this boat
This boat was the first U-boat sunk by a Wellington aircraft and also the first one to fall victim to the Leigh Light equipment.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-502 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 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 |