U-971

Type

VIIC

Ordered

5 Jun, 1941

Laid down

15 Jun, 1942

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 171)

Launched

22 Feb, 1943

Commissioned

1 Apr, 1943

Oblt. Walter Zeplien

Commanders

1 Apr, 1943 - 24 Jun, 1944

Oblt. Walter Zeplien

Career

1 patrol

1 Apr, 1943 - 31 May, 1944 5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun, 1944 - 24 Jun, 1944 3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk 24 Jun, 1944 in the English Channel north of Brest, in position 49.01N, 05.35W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Eskimo, the Canadian Destroyer HMCS Haida and depth charges from a Czech Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 311/O). 1 dead and 51 survivors.

View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat

15 Jun, 1944
During the night as the boat passed near the Faeroes the boat was attacked by a British Sunderland aircraft but managed to repel it and continue undamaged. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 590)

20 Jun, 1944
A Canadian Leigh-light equipped Wellington aircraft (Sqdn, pilot F. H. Foster) depth charged the boat, damaging 3 of its 4 bow torpedo tubes. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 590)

21 Jun, 1944
For the third time on this patrol the boat was attacked by Allied aircraft. On this day two more attacked; a British Sunderland (Sqdn 228) and a British Halifax (Sqdn 502) causing yet more damages to the boat. The boat still persisted with its patrol and was sunk by aircraft 3 days later while enroute to base at Brest, France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 590)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in April 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-971 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.