View source for German submarine U-97 (1940)

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{{other ships|German submarine U-97}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = 
| Ship caption = 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = [[Nazi Germany]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
| Ship name = ''U-97''
| Ship namesake = 
| Ship ordered = 30 May 1938
| Ship builder = [[Germaniawerft]], [[Kiel]]
| Ship yard number = 602
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 27 September 1939
| Ship launched = 15 August 1940
| Ship commissioned = 28 September 1940
| Ship homeport = 
| Ship identification = 
| Ship motto = 
| Ship nickname = 
| Ship fate = Sunk on 16 June 1943, by an Australian [[light bomber]]
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = [[German Type VII submarine#Type VIIC|Type VIIC]] [[submarine]]
| Ship displacement = *{{convert|769|t|LT|0|lk=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|871|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged
| Ship length = *{{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[o/a]]
*{{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[pressure hull]]
| Ship beam = *{{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
*{{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull
| Ship height = {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = *{{convert|2800|–|3200|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|750|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (electric)
| Ship propulsion = *2 shafts
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[Motor-generator|electric motors]]
| Ship speed = *{{convert|17.7|kn|lk=in|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|7.6|kn}} submerged
| Ship range = *{{convert|8500|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|80|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
| Ship test depth = *{{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*[[Submarine depth ratings|Crush depth]]: {{convert|250|–|295|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship complement = 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *5 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (four bow, one stern)
*14 × [[torpedo]]es ''or'' 26 TMA [[Naval mine|mine]]s
*1 × [[8.8&nbsp;cm SK C/35 naval gun|{{convert|8.8|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} deck gun]] (220 rounds)
*1 x [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] AA gun
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|partof=
*[[7th U-boat Flotilla]]
*28 September 1940 – 31 October 1941
*[[23rd U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 November 1941 – 30 April 1942
*[[29th U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 May 1942 – 16 June 1943
|codes=M 19 988
|commanders=
*''[[Kptlt.]]'' Udo Heilmann
*28 September 1940 – May 1942
*''[[Oblt.z.S.]]'' Friedrich Bürgel
*May – 15 October 1942
*''Kptlt.'' Hans-Georg Trox
*2 February 1943 – 16 June 1943
|operations=*13 patrols:
*1st patrol:
*17 February – 7 March 1941
*2nd patrol:
*20 March – 10 April 1941
*3rd patrol:
*1 – 30 May 1941
*4th patrol:
*2 July – 8 August 1941
*5th patrol:
*20 September – 27 October 1941
*6th patrol:
*23 December – 9 January 1942
*7th patrol:
*a. 12 – 31 January 1942
*b. 3 – 8 February 1942
*8th patrol:
*14 – 30 March 1942
*9th patrol:
*5 April – 12 May 1942
*10th patrol:
*15 June – 4 July 1942
*11th patrol:
*a. 22 July 1942 – 4 August 1942
*b. 20 – 29 August 1942
*12th patrol:
*10 April – 3 May 1943
*13th patrol:
*5 – 16 June 1943
|victories=
*15 merchant ships sunk <br />({{GRT|64,404}})
*1 auxiliary warship sunk <br />({{GRT|6,833}})
*1 merchant ship damaged <br />({{GRT|9,718}})
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-97''''' was a [[German Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC U-boat]] built for [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' for service during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. She carried out thirteen patrols during her career, sinking sixteen ships and damaging a seventeenth. She was a member of two [[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]]s.

''U-97'' was sunk on 16 June 1943 while operating in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], west of [[Haifa]].<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'', Third edition, revised 1995, {{ISBN|0 7230 0809 4}}, p. 45</ref> She was [[depth charge]]d by an Australian [[light bomber]].

==Construction and deployment==
''U-97'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at the [[Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft]] in [[Kiel]] as yard number 602. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 15 August 1940 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 28 September under the command of ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' Udo Heilmann.

Serving with the [[7th U-boat Flotilla]], ''U-97'' completed training in late 1940 and early 1941 before commencing operations.

==Design==
[[German Type VII submarine#Type VIIC|German Type VIIC submarines]] were preceded by the shorter [[German Type VII submarine#Type VIIB|Type VIIB submarines]]. ''U-97'' had a displacement of {{convert|769|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|871|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}} She had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[Germaniawerft]] F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder [[supercharged]] [[diesel engine]]s producing a total of {{convert|2800 to 3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two [[AEG (German company)|AEG]] GU 460/8–27 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} [[propeller]]s. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|17.7|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.6|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|80|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|8500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ''U-97'' was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen [[torpedo]]es, one [[8.8&nbsp;cm SK C/35 naval gun|{{convert|8.8|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} SK C/35 naval gun]], 220 rounds, and a [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of between forty-four and sixty.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}}

==Service history==

===First patrol===
The boat's first patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 17 February 1941. Her route took her across the [[North Sea]] and through the [[GIUK gap|gap]] between [[Iceland]] and the [[Faroe Islands]].

She sank three ships on the 24th; ''Mansepool'', ''Jonathon Holt'', both southwest of the Faroe Islands and ''British Gunner'' {{convert|273|nmi|lk=in}} northwest of [[Cape Wrath]] (northern Scotland). Among those lost in the sinking of the ''Jonathon Holt'' was the travel writer [[Robert Byron (travel writer)|Robert Byron]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Crew lists from ships hit by U-boats, Jonathan Holt, British steam merchant |url=https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship784.html |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=uboat.net}}</ref> The {{sclass2|Flower|corvette}} {{HMS|Petunia|K79|6}} had ordered the crew of ''British Gunner'' to abandon their vessel even though the master had said the ship could be towed to safety.

The U-boat then damaged ''G.C. Brøvig''. The Norwegian tanker was a victim of ''U-97''{{'}}s third attack on Convoy OB 289. The [[torpedo]] strike caused her to lose her bow, but the bulkhead held and the engines remained usable. With assistance from HMS ''Petunia'', she arrived at [[Stornoway]] (in the [[Outer Hebrides]]),<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'' p. 8</ref> on 27 February. She was subsequently repaired and returned to service.

The patrol was somewhat marred when a crew-member was lost overboard on 3 March. The submarine docked at [[Lorient]] in occupied France on 7 March.

===Second patrol===
''U-97'' sank three more ships between [[Cape Farewell, Greenland|Cape Farewell]] (Greenland)<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'', p. 55</ref> and southern Ireland in March and April 1941. They were: ''Chama'' and ''Hørda'' (on 23 and 24 March respectively) and ''Conus'' on 4 April. There were no survivors from ''Hørda'' or ''Conus''.

===Third and fourth patrols===
The boat sank {{HMS|Camito|F77|6}}, an [[Fyffes Line|Elders & Fyffes]] banana boat that had been requisitioned as an Ocean Boarding Vessel and ''Sangro'', west southwest of [[Cape Clear Island|Cape Clear]] (southern Ireland)<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'', p. 9</ref> on 6 May 1941. On 8 May she struck again, sinking ''Ramillies'' southeast of Cape Farewell.

Sortie number four was relatively uneventful, starting from St. Nazaire on 2 July 1941 and terminating in the same port on 8 August.

===Fifth patrol===
Departing St. Nazaire on 20 September 1941, ''U-97'' went south, slipped past the heavily guarded British base at [[Gibraltar]] and into the Mediterranean. She sank ''Pass of Balmaha'' {{convert|50|nmi|abbr=on}} west of [[Alexandria]] on 17 October. The merchant ship had been part of the fourth convoy of Operation [[Operation Cultivate|''Cultivate'']], the relief of [[Tobruk]]. She also sank ''Samos'' on the same day.

An accident which left the IIWO (second watch officer) badly injured on 24 October forced the boat to cut her patrol short. She arrived at [[Salamis Island|Salamis]] in Greece on the 27th.

===Sixth and seventh patrols===
Human frailties also came to the fore during the boat's sixth patrol when, having crossed the [[Aegean Sea]] towards Turkey, she was obliged by a sick crew-member, on 7 January 1942, to return to Salamis on the ninth.

The submarine's seventh patrol started and finished in Salamis.

===Eighth and ninth patrols===
Having moved to [[La Spezia]] in northwest Italy in February, ''U-97'' was attacked by a [[Short Sunderland|Sunderland]] flying boat of [[No. 230 Squadron RAF]] off the North African coast. The aircraft dropped five bombs on the boat, but caused no damage.

Patrol number nine continued the shuttle-sequence between Salamis and La Spezia.

===Tenth patrol===
The situation improved for the crew when they sank ''Zealand'' and ''Memos'' {{convert|14|nmi|abbr=on}} southwest of Haifa on 28 June 1942. The ''Marilyese Moller'' went to the bottom on 1 July about {{convert|27|nmi|abbr=on}} west of [[Rafah]]<ref>''The Times Atlas of the World'', p. 45</ref> in Palestine. The armed trawler HMS ''Burra'' reacted with three depth charges, but was unsuccessful.

===11th and 12th patrols===
These patrols began in Salamis and La Spezia; the latter finished in Pola (now [[Pula]]) in Croatia in May 1943.

===13th patrol and loss===
''U-97''{{'}}s final patrol started with her departure from Pola on 5 June 1943. She sank ''Palima'' {{convert|30|nmi|abbr=on}} south southwest of [[Beirut]] on the 12th. She was also successful against ''Athelmonarch'' northwest of [[Jaffa]] on the 15th.

The U-boat was sunk by a [[Lockheed Hudson]] of 459 Squadron, [[Royal Australian Air Force]] on 16 June 1943 west of Haifa. Twenty-seven men died, there were twenty-one survivors.

===Wolfpacks===
''U-97'' took part in two [[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]]s, namely.
* [[Wolfpack West|West]] (8 – 27 May 1941)
* Goeben (20 – 29 September 1941)

==Summary of raiding history==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"|-
!Date
!Ship
!Nationality
!Tonnage<ref group=Note name=tonnage>Merchant ship tonnages are in [[gross register tons]]. Military vessels are listed by tons [[displacement (ship)|displacement]].</ref>
!Fate<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u97.html
 |title=Ships hit by U-97
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=26 December 2014
}}</ref>
|-
|align="right"|24 February 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in February 1941#24 February|''British Gunner'']]
|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|6,894
|align="left" |Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|24 February 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in February 1941#24 February|''G.C. Brøvig'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|Norway}}
|align="right"|9,718
|align="left"|Damaged
|-
|align="right"|24 February 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in February 1941#24 February|''Johnathon Holt'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|4,973
|align="left"|Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|24 February 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in February 1941#24 February|''Mansepool'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|4,894
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|24 March 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in March 1941#24 March|''Chama'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|8,077
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|24 March 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in March 1941#24 March|''Hørda'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|Norway}}
|align="right"|4,301
|align="left"|Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|4 April 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in April 1941#4 April|''Conus'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|8,132
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|6 May 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in May 1941#6 May|HMS ''Camito'']]
|align="left"|{{navy|United Kingdom}}
|align="right"|6,833
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|6 May 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in May 1941#6 May|''Sangro'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|Italy|1861}}
|align="right"|6,466
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|8 May 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in May 1941#8 May|''Ramilles'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|4,553
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|17 October 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in October 1941#17 October|''Pass of Balmaha'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|758
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|17 October 1941
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in October 1941#17 October|''Samos'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|Greece}}
|align="right"|1,208
|align="left"|Sunk
|-
|align="right"|28 June 1942
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in June 1942#28 June|''Memas'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|Greece}}
|align="right"|1,755
|align="left"|Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|28 June 1942
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in June 1942#28 June|''Zealand'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|1,433
|align="left"|Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|1 July 1942
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in July 1942#1 July|''Marilyse Moller'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|786
|align="left"|Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|12 June 1943
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in June 1943#12 June|''Palima'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|1,179
|align="left"|Sunk 
|-
|align="right"|15 June 1943
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in June 1943#15 June|''Athelmonarch'']]
|align="left"|{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|8,995
|align="left"|Sunk
|}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |title=Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |date=1999|volume=IV |publisher=Mittler|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXKwAAAAIAAJ |language=de}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Eric |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |translator-last1=Thomas|translator-first1=Keith|translator-last2=Magowan|translator-first2=Rachel |title=German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |date=1991 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |volume=2 |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Udg-0AEACAAJ|ref=CITEREFGröner1991}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u97.html
 |title=The Type VIIC boat U-97
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=26 December 2014
}}
*{{cite web
|url=http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0097.html
|title=''U 97''
|last=Hofmann
|first=Markus
|website=Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de
|language=de
|access-date=26 December 2014
}}
* [http://kanal24.az/?l=en&m=xeber&id=71274 "Found near Netanya, a huge British tanker, sunk by Hitler's submarine" http://kanal24.az/?l=en&m=xeber&id=71274]
{{German Type VII submarines}}
{{June 1943 shipwrecks}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:U0097}}
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:German Type VIIC submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1940]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by Australian aircraft]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1943]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1943]]