U-511

Type

IXC

Ordered

20 Oct, 1939

Laid down

21 Feb, 1941

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 307)

Launched

22 Sep, 1941

Commissioned

8 Dec, 1941

Kptlt. Friedrich Steinhoff

Commanders

8 Dec, 1941 - 17 Dec, 1942	Kptlt. Friedrich Steinhoff
18 Dec, 1942 - 20 Nov, 1943	Kptlt. Fritz Schneewind

Career

4 patrols

8 Dec, 1941 - 31 Jul, 1942 4. Flottille (training)
1 Aug, 1942 - 1 Sep, 1943 10. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

5 ships sunk for a total of 41.373 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 8.773 GRT

Fate

Sold to Japan at Kure, Japan on 16 Sept, 1943 and became the Japanese submarine RO 500. Surrendered at Maizuru in August 1945.

Scuttled in the Gulf of Maizuru by the US Navy on 30 April, 1946.

See the 6 ships hit by U-511 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-511 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Steinbrock (1 Aug, 1942 - 7 Aug, 1942)
Robbe (16 Feb, 1943 - 6 Mar, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

12 Feb, 1943
The boat was damaged by convoy escorts off Cape Finisterre and was forced to abort her attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 195)

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

During the summer of 1942 the boat under the command of Kptlt. Steinhoff took part in some of the most interesting experiments of the entire world war. Steinhoff's brother, Dr. Erich Steinhoff was working at Peenemünde on the rockets program and they worked it out so that U-511 was used for rocket tests.

A rack for 6 30 cm rockets was installed and somewhat extensive tests were carried out. These were concluded with a successful launch of rockets from a depth of 12 meters. These amazing tests did not convince Dönitz' staff of their merit and they were not carried out. The rockets in question, the 30cm Wurfkörper 42 Spreng, was by no means advanced enough to target ships but it might have been used to bombard shore installations such as oil refineries in the Caribbean. That idea was born in late 1944 when type XXI boats were to tow V-2 launchers which would attack shore bases. The launchers, nor the XXI boats, were not available in time though.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-511 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.