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German submarine U-177

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox ship begin}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image=

|Ship caption=

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{{Infobox ship career

|Hide header=

|Ship country=Nazi Germany

|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}

|Ship name= U-177

|Ship ordered= 28 May 1940

|Ship builder= DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen

|Ship yard number= 1017

|Ship laid down = 25 November 1940

|Ship launched= 1 October 1941

|Ship commissioned= 14 March 1942

|Ship homeport=

|Ship motto=

|Ship nickname=

|Ship fate= Sunk by US aircraft, 6 February 1944

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship class= Type IXD2 submarine

|Ship displacement=

  • {{convert|1610|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced
  • {{convert|1799|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged

|Ship length=

  • {{convert|87.58|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|68.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship beam=

  • {{convert|7.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|4.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship height={{convert|10.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draught={{convert|5.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship power=

  • {{convert|4400|PS|kW bhp
1|abbr=on}} (diesels)
  • {{convert|1000|PS|kW shp
    • 1|abbr=on}} (electric)

    |Ship propulsion=

    |Ship speed=

    • {{convert|19.2|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
    • {{convert|6.9|kn}} submerged

    |Ship range=

    • {{convert|23700|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
    • {{convert|57|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged

    |Ship test depth={{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}

    |Ship complement= 55 to 63

    |Ship armament=

    |Ship notes=

    }}

    {{Infobox service record

    |is_ship= yes

    |label= Service record{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/boats/u177.htm

    |title= The Type IXD2 boat U-177

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date= 5 March 2010

    }}{{Cite web

    |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u177.html

    |title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-177

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    |partof=

    |codes=M 16 669

    |commanders=

    • K.Kapt. Wilhelm Schulze
    • 14 March 1942 – 23 March 1943
    • K.Kapt. Robert Gysae
    • 24 March - 16 October 1943
    • K.Kapt. Heinz Buchholz
    • 17 October 1943 – 6 February 1944

    |operations=*3 patrols:

    • 1st patrol:
    • 17 September 1942 – 22 January 1943
    • 2nd patrol:
    • a. 1 April - 1 October 1943
    • b. 23–26 December 1943
    • 3rd patrol:
    • 2 January - 6 February 1944

    |victories=

    • 14 merchant ships sunk
      ({{GRT|87,388}})
    • 1 merchant ship damaged
      ({{GRT|2,588}})

    }}

    German submarine U-177 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 25 November 1940, at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen, as yard number 1017. She was launched on 1 October 1941, and commissioned on 14 March 1942, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Schulze. After a period of training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla at Stettin, the boat was transferred to the 10th flotilla on 1 October 1942, and based at Lorient, for front-line service, she was then reassigned to the 12th flotilla at Bordeaux on 1 December.

    She sank 14 ships of {{GRT|87388|disp=long}} and damaged one other of {{GRT|2588|link=off}}, but was herself sunk on 6 February 1944, in the Atlantic west of Ascension Island by a US Navy aircraft.

    Design

    German Type IXD2 submarines were considerably larger than the original Type IXs. U-177 had a displacement of {{convert|1610|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1799|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74–75}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|87.58|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|68.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|7.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|10.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|5.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines plus two MWM RS34.5S six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engines for cruising, producing a total of {{convert|4400|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|1000|shp|PS kW|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.85|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|200|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74–75}}

    The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|20.8|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|6.9|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74–75}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|121|nmi}} at {{convert|2|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|23700|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-177 was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 24 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun, 150 rounds, and a 3.7 cm SK C/30 with 2575 rounds as well as two 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft guns with 8100 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-five.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=74–75}}

    Operational history

    =First patrol=

    Under the command of Kptlt. Robert Gysae, U-177 left Kiel on 17 September 1942, and sailed north around the British Isles. On 23 September, the U-boat was bombed by a twin-engine aircraft southeast of Iceland, but crash-dived and sustained no damage. She then headed south to the waters off South Africa and Mozambique. There she sank eight ships totaling {{GRT|49371}} and damaged another of {{GRT|2588|link=off}}:{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_4032.html

    |title=Patrol of U-boat U-177 from 17 Sep 1942 to 22 Jan 1943

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    She had her first success on 2 November, sinking the unescorted {{GRT|4538|link=off}} Greek merchant steamer Aegeus off Cape Columbine. There were no survivors.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2342.html

    |title=Aegeus (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    On 9 November, the U-boat attacked and damaged the unescorted {{GRT|2588|link=off}} British oil tanker Cerion south of Port Elizabeth with her 37 mm and 20 mm AA guns, after her deck gun malfunctioned, and several attacks with torpedoes failed.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2395.html

    |title=Cerion (Motor tanker)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    The {{GRT|7006|link=off}} British tanker Scottish Chief was the next victim on 19 November; she was loaded with {{convert|13000|t}} of fuel oil, and was torpedoed by U-177 about {{convert|200|mi}} east southeast of Durban. The ship exploded and sank in flames, with only 12 of the crew of 48 surviving.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2448.html

    |title=Scottish Chief (Steam tanker)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    The unescorted {{GRT|7191|link=off}} Liberty ship {{SS|Pierce Butler||2}} was hit by two torpedoes from U-177 on 20 November. The ship's armed guards opened fire with her {{convert|5|in|adj=on|spell=in}} and {{convert|3|in|adj=on|spell=in}} guns, while the engines were secured; subsequently the eight officers, 33 crewmen and 21 armed guards abandoned ship in four lifeboats. Within half an hour the ship sank.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2451.html

    |title=Pierce Butler (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    U-177 next sank the unescorted {{GRT|6796|link=off}} British troop transport {{RMS|Nova Scotia|1926|6}} southeast of Lourenço Marques on 28 November. The ship was carrying mail, passengers and 780 Italian prisoners of war and civilian internees from Port Tewfik, Massawa and Aden to Durban. Hit by three torpedoes, she sank within ten minutes. The U-boat picked up two survivors to identify the ship, who turned out to be Italian merchant sailors. Mindful of the Laconia Order issued two months previously, Gysae radioed the BdU (U-boat headquarters) and was ordered to continue his patrol while they notified the Portuguese authorities, who sent the frigate {{ship|NRP|Afonso de Albuquerque|1934|2}} to help. The frigate rescued only 194 survivors. From the 1,052 aboard, 858 were lost, including 650 Italians.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2476.html

    |title=Nova Scotia (Troop transport)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    On 30 November, she sank the unescorted {{GRT|10799|link=off}} British troop transport {{SS|Llandaff Castle|}} with two torpedoes southeast of Lourenço Marques. The former Union-Castle Line passenger ship had 150 passengers on board, including six Soviet diplomats with their wives and children and 70 military officers with their families. Three crew members were lost. The survivors were later rescued by {{HMS|Catterick|L81|6}}.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2480.html

    |title=Llandaff Castle (Troop transport)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    U-177 torpedoed the unescorted {{GRT|3548|link=off}} Greek merchant ship Saronikos off Mozambique, on 7 December, which broke in half and sank within two minutes. The Germans questioned the only two survivors from the crew of 38, and provided them with bandages and provisions.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2494.html

    |title=Saronikos (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    The boat torpedoed the unescorted {{GRT|6408|link=off}} British merchant ship Empire Gull on 12 December, in the Mozambique Channel, allowing the crew to abandon ship before opening fire with her deck gun, firing 70 incendiary and 100 high-explosive rounds, and scoring about 140 hits, which finally caused the ship to sink. Two crew members were lost in the attack, the master and 43 crewmen were later rescued up by {{HMS|Inconstant|H49|6}} and {{HMS|Freesia|K43|6}}.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2505.html

    |title=Empire Gull (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    On 14 December, the U-boat sank the {{GRT|3085|link=off}} Dutch merchant ship Sawahloento with her last torpedo, her destruction took seven minutes. The crew of 72 men abandoned ship in four lifeboats, three of which capsized when the boiler exploded, drowning most of the occupants. The 19 survivors in the last lifeboat were questioned, and then set sail towards the coast of South Africa, arriving two days later.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2512.html

    |title=Sawahloento (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    U-177 then headed for France, arriving in Bordeaux on 22 January 1943, after a voyage of 128 days.

    =Second patrol=

    U-177 left Bordeaux, 1 April 1943, for her second patrol around the Cape of Good Hope, where she sank six ships totaling {{GRT|38017|link=off}}. She attacked Convoy CD-20, 27 May, with a salvo of four torpedoes, hitting the {{GRT|6679|link=off}} United States merchant ship Agwimonte and the {{GRT|7886|link=off}} Norwegian tanker Storaas. Both ships were abandoned by their crews and were sunk with further torpedoes from U-177.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2938.html

    |title=Agwimonte (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2939.html

    |title=Storaas (Motor tanker)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    On 6 July the unescorted {{GRT|7129|link=off}} Canadian merchant ship {{SS|Jasper Park||2}} was hit by two torpedoes from U-177, south southwest of Cap Sainte Marie, the extreme southern point of Madagascar. The U-boat fired another torpedo which either missed or was a dud, so she surfaced to sink the vessel with gunfire, but as she did so her target sank.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2986.html

    |title=Jasper Park (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    On 10 July 1943, U-177 struck the unescorted {{GRT|7,176|link=off}} American Liberty ship Alice F. Palmer, with a single torpedo in the stern, blowing off the propeller and rudder, flooding the engine room, and breaking the back of the ship. The crew of 68 abandoned their vessel in four lifeboats, and after questioning them, U-177 shelled the ship, firing 14 incendiary and 85 high-explosive rounds. The burning ship slowly sank. The four lifeboats eventually sailed to Madagascar.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/3001.html

    |title=Alice F. Palmer (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    The {{GRT|4952|link=off}} British collier Cornish City was torpedoed and sunk on 29 July, southeast of Madagascar. The ship sank within a minute with the loss of 37 of her crew of 43. The survivors were questioned by the Germans and later picked up by {{HMAS|Nizam|G38|6}}.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/3027.html

    |title=Cornish City (Motor merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }}

    The U-boat successfully attacked the unescorted {{GRT|4195|link=off}} Greek merchant ship Efthalia Mari east of Madagascar on 5 August, after spotting her using a Fa 330 Bachstelze rotor kite. Hit by two torpedoes, the ship sank in eight minutes.{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/3036.html

    |title=Efthalia Mari (Steam merchant)

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }} U-177 was one of only a few U-boats equipped with the aerial observation platform, and the only one to have successfully used it.

    The submarine returned to Bordeaux, 1 October 1943, after 184 days at sea.

    =Third patrol and loss=

    Under the command of Korvettenkapitän Heinz Buchholz, U-177 sailed from La Pallice, where she had docked from 26 December 1943, till 2 January 1944, and once again headed south. On the 36th day of the patrol,{{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_4035.html

    |title=Patrol of U-boat U-177 from 2 Jan 1944 to 6 Feb 1944

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=5 March 2010

    }} 6 February, she was sunk in the Atlantic west of Ascension Island (at {{coord|10|35|S|23|15|W|dim:2000000|display=inline,title}}), by depth charges dropped by a P4BY-1 Liberator bomber from VB-107. Fifty men were lost, and 15 survived; they were picked up by {{USS|Omaha|CL-4|6}}.{{sfn|Watts|2017}}

    Summary of raiding history

    class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
    Date

    !Ship

    !Nationality

    !Tonnage
    (GRT)

    !Fate{{cite web

    |url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u177.html

    |title=Ships hit by U-177

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date=3 October 2014

    }}

    align="right"|2 November 1942

    |align="left" |Aegeus

    |align="left" |{{flag|Greece}}

    |align="right"|4,538

    |align="left" |Sunk

    align="right"|9 November 1942

    |align="left" |Cerion

    |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

    |align="right"|2,588

    |align="left" |Damaged

    align="right"|19 November 1942

    |align="left" |Scottish Chief

    |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

    |align="right"|7,006

    |align="left" |Sunk

    align="right"|20 November 1942

    |align="left" |Pierce Butler

    |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

    |align="right"|7,191

    |align="left" |Sunk

    align="right"|28 November 1942

    |align="left" |{{RMS|Nova Scotia|1926|6}}

    |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

    |align="right"|6,796

    |align="left" |Sunk

    align="right"|30 November 1942

    |align="left" |{{SS|Llandaff Castle

    }

    |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

    |align="right"|10,799

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|7 December 1942

    |align="left" |Saronikos

    |align="left" |{{flag|Greece}}

    |align="right"|3,548

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|12 December 1942

    |align="left" |Empire Gull

    |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

    |align="right"|6,408

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|14 December 1942

    |align="left" |Sawahloento

    |align="left" |{{flag|Netherlands}}

    |align="right"|3,085

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|28 May 1943

    |align="left" |Agwimonte

    |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

    |align="right"|6,679

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|28 May 1943

    |align="left" |Storaas

    |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}}

    |align="right"|7,886

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|6 July 1943

    |align="left" |Jasper Park

    |align="left" |{{flag|Canada|1921}}

    |align="right"|7,129

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|10 July 1943

    |align="left" |SS Alice F Palmer

    |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

    |align="right"|7,176

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|29 July 1943

    |align="left" |Cornish City

    |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

    |align="right"|4,952

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |-

    |align="right"|15 August 1943

    |align="left" |Efthalia Maria

    |align="left" |{{flag|Greece}}

    |align="right"|4,195

    |align="left" |Sunk

    |}

    References

    {{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=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945

    |trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945

    |series=Der U-Boot-Krieg

    |volume=IV

    |publisher=Mittler

    |location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn

    |year=1999

    |isbn=3-8132-0514-2

    |language=de

    }}

    • {{cite book

    |last1=Gröner

    |first1=Erich

    |last2=Jung

    |first2=Dieter

    |last3=Maass

    |first3=Martin

    |translator-last1=Thomas

    |translator-first1=Keith

    |translator-last2=Magowan

    |translator-first2=Rachel

    |year=1991

    |title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels

    |volume=2

    |series=German Warships 1815–1945

    |location=London

    |publisher=Conway Maritime Press

    |isbn=0-85177-593-4

    |ref=CITEREFGröner1991

    }}

    • {{cite DANFS

    |last= Watts

    |first= John W.

    |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/omaha-ii.html

    |title= Omaha II (CL-4)

    |publisher= Naval History and Heritage Command

    |date= 10 April 2017

    |access-date= 10 June 2017

    }}

    {{Refend}}

    External links

    • {{Cite web

    |url= http://uboat.net/boats/u177.htm

    |title= The Type IXD boat U-177

    |last=Helgason

    |first=Guðmundur

    |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

    |access-date= 7 December 2014

    }}

    • {{cite web

    | url =http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0177.html

    | title =U 177

    | last =Hofmann

    | first =Markus

    | website =Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de

    | language =de

    | access-date=7 December 2014

    }}

    {{German Type IXD submarines}}

    {{German Type IX submarines}}

    {{February 1944 shipwrecks}}

    {{DEFAULTSORT:U0177}}

    Category:World War II submarines of Germany

    Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean

    Category:World War II shipwrecks in the South Atlantic

    Category:German Type IX submarines

    Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942

    Category:U-boats sunk in 1944

    Category:U-boats sunk by US aircraft

    Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges

    Category:1941 ships

    Category:Ships built in Bremen (state)

    Category:Maritime incidents in February 1944