U-559

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct, 1939

Laid down

1 Feb, 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 535)

Launched

8 Jan, 1941

Commissioned

27 Feb, 1941

Oblt. Hans Heidtmann (Knights Cross)

Commanders

27 Feb, 1941 - 30 Oct, 1942

Kptlt. Hans Heidtmann (Knights Cross)

Career

10 patrols

27 Feb, 1941 - 1 Jun, 1941  1. Flottille (training)
1 Jun, 1941 - 31 Oct, 1941  1. Flottille (front boat)
1 Nov, 1941 - 14 Apr, 1942  23. Flottille (front boat)
15 Apr, 1942 - 30 Oct, 1942  29. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

4 ships sunk for a total of 11.811 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 1.060 tons
2 ships a total loss for a total of 6.117 GRT

Fate

Sunk 30 Oct, 1942 in the Mediterranean north-east of Port Said, in position 32.30N, 33.00E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Pakenham, HMS Petard and HMS Hero and the British escort destroyers HMS Dulverton and HMS Hurworth, and a British Short Sunderland aircraft from RAF 47 Sqn. 7 dead and 38 survivors.

See the 7 ships hit by U-559 - View the 10 war patrols

General notes on this boat

The boat was boarded by 3 men who had swum over to the sinking wreck. They went into the boat and captured several vital secret documents which greatly helped (some say, enabled) to break the German Enigma code machine. 2 of the 3 drowned inside the boat while still handing out files.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-559 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.