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German submarine U-586

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German submarine U-586 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 October 1940 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 562, launched on 10 July 1941 and commissioned on 4 September 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Esch.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-586
Ordered8 January 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number562
Laid down1 October 1940
Launched10 July 1941
Commissioned4 September 1941
FateSunk in port near Toulon, France. She was bombed by USAAF B-24 Liberators (15th Air Force) on 5 July 1944 at position 43°07′N 05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E / 43.117; 5.917.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 05 723
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Dietrich von der Esch
  • 4 September 1941 – 30 September 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans Götze
  • 1 October 1943 – 5 July 1944
Operations:
  • 13 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 12 January – 12 February 1942
  • b. 16 – 19 February 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 14 – 22 March 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 10 May – 1 June 1942
  • b. 4 – 6 June 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 25 July – 16 August 1942
  • b. 27 – 31 August 1942
  • c. 3 – 5 October 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 11 – 12 October 1942
  • b. 13 October – 5 November 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 18 November – 1 December 1942
  • b. 6 – 10 December 1942
  • c. 11 December 1942
  • d. 7 – 8 February 1943
  • e. 25 February – 1 March 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 2 – 13 March 1943
  • b. 15 – 16 March 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • a. 29 March – 2 May 1943
  • b. 27 – 31 May 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • a. 5 June – 10 July 1943
  • b. 18 – 19 July 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • a. 21 – 31 July 1943
  • b. 3 – 4 August 1943
  • b. 6 – 7 August 1943
  • 11th patrol:
  • 19 October – 3 December 1943
  • 12th patrol:
  • 29 January – 22 February 1944
  • 13th patrol:
  • 9 May – 21 June 1944
Victories:
  • 2 merchant ships sunk
    (12,716 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (9,057 GRT)

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-586 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie 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-586 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]

Service history

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The boat's service began on 4 September 1941 with training as part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 11th U-boat Flotilla on 1 July 1942 and then to the 13th U-boat Flotilla on 1 June 1943. She returned to the 6th U-boat Flotilla a short while later on 1 October 1943, and then to her final assignment with 29th U-boat Flotilla in the Mediterranean.

In 13 patrols she sank two merchant ships for a total of 12,716 gross register tons (GRT), plus one merchant ship damaged.

Wolfpacks

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She took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:

  • Robbe (15 – 24 January 1942)
  • Greif (14 – 29 May 1942)
  • Nebelkönig (27 July – 14 August 1942)
  • Boreas (19 – 26 November 1942)
  • Taifun (2 – 4 April 1943)
  • Jahn (31 October – 2 November 1943)
  • Tirpitz 3 (2 – 8 November 1943)
  • Eisenhart 5 (9 – 15 November 1943)
  • Schill 2 (17 – 22 November 1943)
  • Weddigen (22 – 25 November 1943)

Fate

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She was sunk whilst alongside at Missiessy East Quay, Toulon, France, by a USAAF air raid by B-24 Liberator bombers of 15th Air Force on 5 July 1944.

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[3]
9 February 1942 Anna Knudsen   Norway 9,057 Damaged
2 November 1942 Empire Gilbert   United Kingdom 6,640 Sunk
9 March 1943 Puerto Rican   United States 6,076 Sunk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-586". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-586". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 April 2014.

Bibliography

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