German submarine U-593

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 13 December 1943 at position by US & Royal Navy.
General characteristics
Class & 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) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 23 October 1941 – 28 February 1942 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 March 1942 – 31 October 1942 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1942 – 13 December 1943
Commanders:	Kptlt. Gerd Kelbling 23 October 1941 – 13 December 1943
Operations:	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: 8–23 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) 1 merchant ship damaged (4,853 GRT) 1 merchant ship total loss (8,426 GRT) 3 warships sunk (2,902 tons) 1 warship damaged (1,625 tons) 1 warship total loss (1,625 tons)

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.

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.

Design

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. 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).

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). 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

In 16 patrols she sank 16 ships, including one warship for a total of 41,411 GRT. She was sunk on 13 December 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea, off Bougie, Algeria, in position , by depth charges from USS Wainwright and HMS Calpe. There were no casualties.

Wolfpacks

In addition she took part in three wolfpacks, namely,

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

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
14 May 1942	Stavros	Greece	4,853	Damaged
25 May 1942	Persephone	Panama	8,426	Total loss
5 August 1942	Spar	Netherlands	3,616	Sunk
12 November 1942	Browning	United Kingdom	5,332	Sunk
18 March 1943	Dafila	United Kingdom	1,940	Sunk
18 March 1943	Kaying	United Kingdom	2,626	Sunk
27 March 1943	City of Guildford	United Kingdom	5,157	Sunk
11 April 1943	Runo	United Kingdom	1,858	Sunk
22 June 1943	USS LST-333	United States Navy	1,625	Total loss
22 June 1943	USS LST-387	United States Navy	1,625	Damaged
5 July 1943	Devis	United Kingdom	6,054	Sunk
21 September 1943	William W. Gerhard	United States	7,176	Sunk
7 September 1943	USS Skill	United States Navy	815	Sunk
3 November 1943	Mont Viso	Free France	4,531	Sunk
12 December 1943	HMS Tynedale	Royal Navy	1,000	Sunk
12 December 1943	HMS Holcombe	Royal Navy	1,087	Sunk

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)