| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-587 |
| Ordered | 16 January 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 563 |
| Laid down | 31 October 1940 |
| Launched | 23 July 1941 |
| Commissioned | 11 September 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk on 27 March 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 19 451 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
German submarineU-587 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 31 October 1940 byBlohm & Voss,Hamburg as yard number 563,launched on 23 July 1941 andcommissioned on 11 September 1941 underKorvettenkapitän Ulrich Borcherdt.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-587 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), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoBrown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8double-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-587 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
The boat's short service career began on 11 September 1941 with training, followed by active service on 1 January 1942 as part of the6th U-boat Flotilla. It ended just 3 months later when she was sunk in the North Atlantic.
In two patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 22,734 gross register tons (GRT), plus one auxiliary warship sunk.
U-587 took part in onewolfpack, namely:
U-587 was sunk on 27 March 1942 in theNorth Atlantic in position47°21′N21°39′W / 47.350°N 21.650°W /47.350; -21.650; depth charged by Royal Navy vesselsHMS Grove,Aldenham,Volunteer andLeamington. There were no survivors.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 February 1942 | Anadara | 8,009 | Sunk | |
| 6 March 1942 | Hans Egede | 900 | Sunk | |
| 8 March 1942 | HMS Northern Princess | 655 | Sunk | |
| 9 March 1942 | Lily | 5,719 | Sunk | |
| 23 March 1942 | Diala | 8,106 | Sunk |