|
| History |
|---|
| Nazi Germany |
|---|
| Name | U-591 |
| Ordered | 16 January 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 567 |
| Laid down | 30 October 1940 |
| Launched | 20 August 1941 |
| Commissioned | 9 October 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk on 30 July 1943 in the South Atlantic near Pernambuco in position 08°36′S 34°34′W / 8.600°S 34.567°W / -8.600; -34.567, by depth charges from a US Lockheed Ventura aircraft. |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class & type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament | |
| Service record |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: |
M 37 230 |
| Commanders: |
- Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche
- 9 October 1941 – 8 September 1942
- Oblt.z.S. Peter Schrewe
- 9 September – 12 November 1942
- Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche
- 12 November 1942 – 17 May 1943
- Lt.z.S. Joachim Sauerbier
- 15 – 17 May 1943
- Oblt.z.S. Reimar Ziesmer
- 1 June – 30 July 1943
|
| Operations: |
- 8 patrols:
- 1st patrol:
- 15 January – 20 February 1942
- 2nd patrol:
- 1 – 11 April 1942
- 3rd patrol:
- a. 10 May – 2 June 1942
- b. 4 – 7 June 1942
- 4th patrol:
- a. 27 July – 14 August 1942
- b. 22 – 24 August 1942
- c. 27 August 1942
- d. 28 – 29 August 1942
- e. 8 – 9 September 1942
- f. 11 – 12 September 1942
- 5th patrol:
- 1 December 1942 – 12 January 1943
- 6th patrol:
- 17 February – 7 April 1943
- 7th patrol:
- 12 – 17 May 1943
- 8th patrol:
- 26 June – 30 July 1943
|
| Victories: |
- 4 merchant ships sunk
(19,932 GRT)
- 1 merchant ship damaged
(5,701 GRT)
|
German submarine U-591 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 30 October 1940 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 567, launched on 20 August 1941 and commissioned on 9 October 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche.