U-566

Type

VIIC

Ordered

24 Oct, 1939

Laid down

30 Mar, 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 542)

Launched

20 Feb, 1941

Commissioned

17 Apr, 1941

Kptlt. Dietrich Borchert

Commanders

17 Apr, 1941 - 24 Jul, 1942	Dietrich Borchert
25 Jul, 1942 - 24 Jan, 1943	Gerhard Remus
25 Jan, 1943 - 24 Oct, 1943	Kptlt. Hans Hornkohl

Career

11 patrols

17 Apr, 1941 - 1 Aug, 1941 1. Flottille (training)
1 Aug, 1941 - 24 Oct, 1943 1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

6 ships sunk for a total of 38.092 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 2.265 tons

Fate

Scuttled on 24 Oct, 1943 in the North Atlantic west of Leixoes, in position 41.12N, 09.31W, after being damaged by 6 depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (Sqdn. 179/A). 49 survivors (No casualties).

See the 7 ships hit by U-566 - View the 11 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-566 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Pfadfinder (23 May, 1942 - 27 May, 1942)
   Blücher (12 Aug, 1942 - 20 Aug, 1942)
   Eisbär (23 Aug, 1942 - 29 Aug, 1942)
   Natter (1 Nov, 1942 - 8 Nov, 1942)
   Neptun (18 Feb, 1943 - 3 Mar, 1943)
   Westmark (6 Mar, 1943 - 11 Mar, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

17 Nov, 1942
The boat, was attacked and severely damaged by a British Hudson bomber (Sqdn, 233, pilot Eric Smith). The boat was forced to abort to France for repairs. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 113)

26 Apr, 1943
While outbound from France the boat was attacked on her fifth day out by a British Leigh-light Wellington bomber (Sqdn 172, pilot Alex Coumbis) and damaged so severly she was unable to dive and had to be escorted to base by German aircraft and surface ships. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 276)

7 Aug, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American Ventura (Sqdn VB-128)

Aircraft PV-1. The second shot down during this hunt.

7 Aug, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American Ventura (Sqdn VB-128)

Aircraft PV-1

13 Aug, 1943
The boat was attacked by 3 aircraft and claimed shot down one "Mitchell" aircraft. (Sources: BdU KTB)

5 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-566 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.