German submarine U-57 (1938)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-57.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-57
Ordered17 June 1937
BuilderDeutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number256
Laid down14 September 1937
Launched3 September 1938
Commissioned29 December 1938
FateSunk in a collision, 3 September 1940; raised and repaired, scuttled, 3 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeType IIC coastal submarine
Displacement
  • 291 t (286 long tons) surfaced
  • 341 t (336 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in) (o/a)
  • 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.40 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught3.82 m (12 ft 6 in)
Installed power
  • 700 PS (510 kW; 690 bhp) (diesels)
  • 410 PS (300 kW; 400 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 1,900 nmi (3,500 km; 2,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 35–42 nmi (65–78 km; 40–48 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement3 officers, 22 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 21 938
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Claus Korth
  • 29 December 1938 – 4 June 1940
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Topp
  • 5 June – 15 September 1940
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Eiseke
  • 11 January 1941 – 16 May 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Zenker
  • 17 May 1943 – 31 July 1944
  • Lt.z.S. / Oblt.z.S. Peter Kühl
  • 1 August 1944 – April 1945
Operations:
  • 11 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 26 August – 2 September 1939
  • b. 3 – 5 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 5 – 18 September 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 25 October – 5 November 1939
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 12 – 23 November 1939
  • b. 5 December 1939
  • 5th patrol:
  • 7 – 16 December 1939
  • 6th patrol:
  • 16 – 25 January 1940
  • 7th patrol:
  • 8 – 25 February 1940
  • 8th patrol:
  • 14 – 29 March 1940
  • 9th patrol:
  • a. 4 April – 7 May 1940
  • b. 11 – 15 July 1940
  • 10th patrol:
  • a. 15 – 20 July 1940
  • b. 22 July – 7 August 1940
  • 11th patrol:
  • 14 August – 3 September 1940
Victories:
  • 11 merchant ships sunk
    (48,053 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (8,240 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (10,191 GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (10,403 GRT)[2]

German submarine U-57 was a Type IIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that served in the Second World War. She was built by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 256. Ordered on 17 June 1937, she was laid down on 14 September, launched on 3 September 1938 and commissioned on 29 December under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Claus Korth.

U-56 was initially part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla during her training period, until 31 December 1939, when she was reassigned to the 1st U-boat Flotilla for operations. She carried out eleven war patrols, sinking eleven ships for a total 48,053 gross register tons (GRT) and one auxiliary warship of 8,240 GRT; she also damaged two vessels totalling 10,403 GRT; one ship was declared a total loss (10,191 GRT).

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IIC boat U-57". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-57". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 8 November 2012.