German submarine U-593 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 December 1940 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 569, launched on 3 September 1941 and commissioned on 23 October under Kapitänleutnant Gerd Kelbling.

Quick Facts History, Nazi Germany ...

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-593
Ordered	16 January 1940
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	569
Laid down	17 December 1940
Launched	3 September 1941
Commissioned	23 October 1941
Fate	Sunk on 13 December 1943 at position 37°38′N 05°58′E by US & Royal Navy.
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record[1]
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 23 October 1941 – 28 February 1942 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 31 October 1942 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1942 – 13 December 1943
Identification codes:	M 38 214
Commanders:	Kptlt. Gerd Kelbling 23 October 1941 – 13 December 1943
Operations:	16 patrols: 1st patrol: 2 – 28 March 1942 2nd patrol: 20 April – 18 June 1942 3rd patrol: 22 July – 19 August 1942 4th patrol: 3 – 15 October 1942 5th patrol: 2 – 16 November 1942 6th patrol: 29 November – 31 December 1942 7th patrol: 6 February – 8 March 1943 8th patrol: 13 – 21 March 1943 9th patrol: 25 March – 4 April 1943 10th patrol: a. 8 – 23 April 1943 b. 24 – 28 April 1943 11th patrol: 13 June – 11 July 1943 12th patrol: 27 July – 8 August 1943 13th patrol: 15 September – 5 October 1943 14th patrol: 26 October – 7 November 1943 15th patrol: 25 – 29 November 1943 16th patrol: 1 – 13 December 1943
Victories:	9 merchant ships sunk (38,290 GRT) 4 warships sunk (2,954 tons) 1 merchant ship total loss (8,426 GRT) 1 warship total loss (1,625 tons) 1 merchant ship damaged (4,853 GRT) 2 warship damaged (1,677 tons)

Close

The boat's service began on 23 October 1941 with training as part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 7th flotilla on 1 March 1942 and moved on to the 29th flotilla on 1 November.

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-593 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).^[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-593 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[2]

U-593 made 16 patrols between March 1942 and December 1943, and sank 13 ships, for a total of 38,290 GRT and 2,954 tons. She made three patrols in the Atlantic from her base in Germany and from St Nazaire in occupied France, and sank three ships. She briefly clashed with British forces on their way to the St Nazaire Raid in March 1942. In October U-593 transferred to the Mediterranean and from various bases there made a further 13 patrols, sinking 8 merchant ships and 4 naval vessels, before being sunk in December 1943.^[3]

U-593 departed Toulon on 1 December 1943 for her 16th war patrol. On 12 December she intercepted convoy KMS 34, outbound from Gibraltar, off the coast of Algeria. Making an attack she hit the escorting destroyer Tynedale, but was pursued by other escorts who engaged in a Swamp operation. During the 32 hour hunt U-593 torpedoed Holcombe, one of her pursuers, but was caught by the destroyers Wainwright and Calpe off Bougie, Algeria. In the afternoon of 13 December she was forced to the surface with depth charges and abandoned. All her crew escaped, and were picked up by the Allied ships.^{[4][5][6][Note 1]}

In addition she took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

• Steinbrinck (3 – 11 August 1942)
• Lohs (11 – 17 August 1942)
• Tümmler (3 – 11 October 1942)

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)