U-561

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

28 Feb 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 537)

Launched

23 Jan 1941

Commissioned

13 Mar 1941

Kptlt. Robert Bartels

Commanders

13 Mar 1941	-	5 Sep 1942	Kptlt. Robert Bartels
5 Sep 1942	-	18 Jun 1943	Kptlt. Heinz Schomburg
19 Jun 1943	-	12 Jul 1943	Oblt. Fritz Henning

Career
15 patrols

13 Mar 1941	-	1 Jun 1941	1. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1941	-	31 Jan 1942	1. Flottille (front boat)
1 Feb 1942	-	12 Jul 1943	23. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

5 ships sunk, total tonnage 17,146 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 4,043 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 5,062 GRT

Fate

Sunk 12 July, 1943 in the Straits of Messina, in position 38.16N, 15.39E, by torpedoes from the British MTB 81. 42 dead and 5 survivors.

See the 7 ships hit by U-561 - View the 15 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-561 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Bosemüller (28 Aug 1941 - 2 Sep 1941)
Seewolf (2 Sep 1941 - 15 Sep 1941)

Attacks on this boat

15 Jul 1942
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Liberator Mk.II AL566 (159 Sqdn RAF, pilot W/O W.S. Pottie)

At 22.07 hours, the boat fired with its 20mm AA guns at the approaching Liberator (misidentified as Sunderland) east-northeast of Port Said. The Germans observed hits on the aircraft, which passed over the boat without dropping bombs. U-561 then crash-dived, but was again attacked when surfacing at 23.15 hours. Again scoring hits with the AA guns, the Germans observed how the aircraft caught fire, jettisoned the bombs and crashed into the sea. All 7 crewmen were lost. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

1 recorded attack 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-561 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.