U-508

Type

IXC

Ordered

20 Oct, 1939

Laid down

24 Sep, 1940

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 304)

Launched

30 Jul, 1941

Commissioned

20 Oct, 1941

Oblt. Georg Staats

Commanders

20 Oct, 1941 - 12 Nov, 1943

Kptlt. Georg Staats (Knights Cross)

Career

6 patrols

20 Oct, 1941 - 30 Jun, 1942 4. Flottille (training)
1 Jul, 1942 - 12 Nov, 1943 10. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

14 ships sunk for a total of 74.087 GRT

Fate

Sunk 12 Nov, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 46.00N, 07.30W, by depth charges from a US Liberator aircraft (VB-103/C). 57 dead (all hands lost).

See the 14 ships hit by U-508 - View the 6 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

26 Feb, 1943
While outbound from France through the Bay of Biscay on her 5th day the boat was attacked by a British B-24 Liberator bomber (Sqdn 224, pilot Peter J. Cundy) and seriously damaged. Cleverly, commander Staats ran west to get out of Allied range and asked for help, unable to dive. He made port on 15 March, 1943. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 200)

12 Nov, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American B-24 Liberator (Sqdn VB-103/C). Both the aircraft and the boat perished and no man from either survived. 57 men died from the boat and 10 from the plane.

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-508 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.