List of all U-boats

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 (active service)

Successes

4 ships sunk, total tonnage 23,635 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 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). (Axel Niestlé, November 1995).

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

Previously recorded fate

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). (Postwar assessment)
Notes. 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 and other events

25 Nov 1941
The boat was attacked and rammed in the Arctic Ocean 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.