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 |
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| 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
15 Sep 1942. 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.
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