U-506

Type

IXC

Ordered

25 Sep, 1939

Laid down

11 Jul, 1940

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 296)

Launched

20 Jun, 1941

Commissioned

15 Sep, 1941

Kptlt. Erich Würdemann (Knights Cross)

Commanders

15 Sep, 1941 - 12 Jul, 1943

Kptlt. Erich Würdemann (Knights Cross)

Career

5 patrols

15 Sep, 1941 - 31 Jan, 1942 4. Flottille (training)
1 Feb, 1942 - 12 Jul, 1943 10. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

14 ships sunk for a total of 69.893 GRT
3 ships damaged for a total of 23.358 GRT
1 ship a total loss for a total of 6.821 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 1550hrs on 12 July, 1943 in the North Atlantic west of Vigo, Spain, in position 42.30N, 16.30W, by 7 depth charges from an US B-24 Liberator aircraft (USAF-A/S Squad. 1). 48 dead and 6 survivors.

See the 18 ships hit by U-506 - View the 5 war patrols

The boat was located by SC137 10cm radar which the Germans could not detect. About 15 men were seen in the water after the boat broke in two. The attacking pilot dropped a liferaft and a smoke flare to assist the survivors. 6 men were picked up from the sea by a British destroyer on 15 July, 3 days after the sinking.

U-506 (along with U-156 and U-507 and Italian submarine Cappellini) took part in the rescue operations after the sinking of SS Laconia in September 1942 off Africa. About 1500 men were saved by these boats and French ships from Dakar (which arrived on Sept 16, 4 days after the sinking).

Attacks on this boat

11 May, 1942
The U-boat was attacked by an US Navy PBY Catalina aircraft about 200 miles south-southwest of its base at Pensacola. (Sources: Ragnar J. Ragnarsson)

17 Sep, 1942
An American B-24 Liberator bomber, piloted by James D. Harden, attacked the boat - carrying 151 survivors from the Laconia, 142 of those on the deck - but the boat dived and survived unharmed. Harden had attacked the U-156 the day before. These attack resulted in the Laconia Order by Dönitz. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 64.)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

U-506 (along with U-156 and U-507 and Italian submarine Cappellini) took part in the rescue operations after the sinking of SS Laconia in September 1942 off Africa. About 1500 men were saved by these boats and French ships from Dakar (which arrived on Sept 16, 4 days after the sinking).

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-506 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.