U-578

Type

VIIC

Ordered

8 Jan 1940

Laid down

1 Aug 1940

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 554)

Launched

15 May 1941

Commissioned

10 Jul 1941

Korvkpt. Ernst-August Rehwinkel

Commanders

10 Jul 1941

6 Aug 1942

FrgKpt. Ernst-August Rehwinkel

Career
5 patrols

10 Jul 1941	-	31 Aug 1941	5. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941	-	1 Oct 1941	7. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1941	-	6 Aug 1942	7. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

4 ships sunk for a total of 23,635 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 1,090 tons

Fate

Missing in the Bay of Biscay since 6 Aug, 1942, position unknown.

No explanation exists for its loss. 49 dead (all hands lost).

See the 5 ships hit by U-578 - View the 5 war patrols

Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by Axel Niestlé during November 1995. More on revised fates.)

Sunk 10 Aug, 1942 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45.49N, 07.44W, by depth charges from a Czechoslovakian aircraft (Czech. Sqdn. 311/H).

This attack was directed against the U-135 inflicting minor damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-578 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Schlei (16 Jan 1942 - 24 Jan 1942)
   Hecht (9 May 1942 - 11 May 1942)
   Pfadfinder (21 May 1942 - 27 May 1942)

Attacks on this boat

25 Nov 1941
The boat was attacked and rammed in the Arctic Sea by a Soviet escort, but suffered only slight damage.

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-578 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.