U-568

Type

VIIC

Ordered

24 Oct, 1939

Laid down

27 Apr, 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 544)

Launched

6 Mar, 1941

Commissioned

1 May, 1941

Kptlt. Joachim Preuss

Commanders

1 May, 1941 - 29 May, 1942

Kptlt. Joachim Preuss

Career

5 patrols

1 May, 1941 - 1 Aug, 1941  3. Flottille (training)
1 Aug, 1941 - 31 Dec, 1941  3. Flottille (front boat)
1 Jan, 1942 - 29 May, 1942  29. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 6.023 GRT
2 warships sunk for a total of 1.850 tons
1 warship damaged for a total of 1.630 tons

Fate

Sunk 29 May, 1942 in the Mediterranean north-east of Tobruk, in position 32.42N, 24.53E, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Hero and the British escort destroyers HMS Eridge and HMS Hurworth. 47 survivors (No casualties).

See the 4 ships hit by U-568 - View the 5 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

12 Aug, 1941
The boat attacked convoy ON-4 and sank the convoy escort HMS Picotee but missed a freighter he also fired on. The other convoy escorts counterattacked the boat and held her down while the convoy escaped. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 335)

9 Jan, 1942
The attack by a Sunderland (RAF-Sqdn 230/X) aircraft on 9 Jan, 1942 in position 32.22N, 26.54E believed to have sunk the U-577 was actually against the U-568 causing minor damage to that boat. (Sources: 1990-11-01, FDS/NHB)

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-568 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.