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German submarine U-504

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

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

{{Infobox ship begin}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image= U-505chicago.jpg

|Ship image size= 300px

|Ship caption=U-505, a typical Type IXC boat

}}

{{Infobox ship career

|Hide header=

|Ship country=Nazi Germany

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

|Ship name=U-504

|Ship ordered=25 September 1939

|Ship builder=Deutsche Werft, Hamburg

|Ship yard number=294

|Ship laid down=29 April 1940

|Ship launched=24 April 1941

|Ship commissioned=30 July 1941

|Ship homeport=

|Ship motto=

|Ship nickname=

|Ship fate=Sunk on 30 July 1943

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship class=Type IXC submarine

|Ship displacement=

  • {{convert|1120|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced
  • {{convert|1232|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged

|Ship length=

  • {{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship beam=

  • {{convert|6.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|4.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draught={{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship power=

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

|Ship propulsion=

|Ship speed=

  • {{convert|18.2|kn}} surfaced
  • {{convert|7.7|kn}} submerged

|Ship range=

  • {{convert|13,450|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
  • {{convert|64|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged

|Ship test depth=

  • {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|Ship complement=4 officers, 44 enlisted

|Ship armament=

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox service record

|is_ship=yes

|label=Service record{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u504.htm

|title=The Type IXC boat U-504

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u504.html

|title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-504

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

|partof=

|codes=M 45 926

|commanders=

|operations=*7 patrols:

  • 1st patrol:
  • 6 – 20 January 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 25 January – 1 April 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 2 May – 7 July 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 19 August – 11 December 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 19 January – 24 March 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 21 April – 29 May 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 27 – 30 July 1943

|victories=

  • 15 merchant ships sunk
    ({{GRT|78,123}})
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    ({{GRT|7,176}})

}}

File:U-504 Speed Dial.jpg

German submarine U-504 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 29 April 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 294, launched on 24 April 1941 and commissioned on 30 July 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Hans-Georg Friedrich "Fritz" Poske. Initially attached to the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, the U-boat was transferred to the 2nd flotilla on 1 January 1942 for front-line service. She was a member of six wolfpacks.

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-504 had a displacement of {{convert|1120|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1232|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|76.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.76|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines 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|1.92|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|18.3|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.3|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|63|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|13450|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-504 was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

Service history

=First patrol=

U-504{{'}}s first war patrol took her from Kiel in Germany, to her home port of Lorient, in occupied France, between 6 and 20 January 1942 without incident.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1071.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 6 Jan 1942 to 20 Jan 1942

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

=Second patrol=

On 25 January 1942 U-504 sailed from Lorient, and headed across the Atlantic to the Florida coast.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1072.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 25 Jan 1942 to 1 Apr 1942

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} There, at 04:55 on 22 February, she attacked the unescorted and unarmed American 5,287 GRT tanker Republic about {{Convert|3.5|nmi}} north-east of Jupiter Inlet Light, Florida. Struck by two torpedoes, the ship settled by the stern, and the crew abandoned ship and rowed to shore. The badly damaged ship eventually drifted onto reefs about five miles (8 km) due east of Hobe Sound, Florida and finally sank on the afternoon of 23 February.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1361.html

|title=Republic (Steam tanker)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} Meanwhile, the U-boat sank another ship, torpedoing the unescorted and unarmed American 10,227 GRT tanker W.D. Anderson at 01:32 on 23 February, about {{convert|12|nmi}} north-east of Jupiter Inlet Light. Loaded with {{convert|133360|oilbbl|m3}} of crude oil, the ship burst into flames, killing all but one of the crew of 36, and later sank.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1371.html

|title=W.D. Anderson (Steam tanker)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

U-504 struck again on 26 February sinking the unescorted Dutch 8,245 GRT tanker Mamura about {{convert|230|nmi}} off the coast of Florida. The ship, loaded with gasoline, was hit by two torpedoes, setting it on fire and breaking it in two. The ship sank within eight minutes, killing all 49 of the crew.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1382.html

|title=Mamura (Motor tanker)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

U-504{{'}}s final victim was the unescorted British 5,966 GRT merchant ship Stangarth, sunk on 16 March, by a single torpedo, north-east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. There were no survivors from her crew of 46.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1442.html

|title=Stangarth (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} U-504 arrived back at Lorient on 1 April after 67 days at sea.

=Third patrol=

The U-boat then sailed for a patrol in the Caribbean Sea, departing Lorient on 2 May 1942.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1073.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 2 May 1942 to 7 Jul 1942

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} Her first success came on 29 May when she sank the unescorted British 1,597 GRT cargo ship Allister, en route from Kingston, Jamaica, to Tampa, Florida, with a cargo of 500 tons of bananas. The ship was torpedoed {{convert|54|nmi}} south of Grand Cayman Island, losing 15 of her crew of 23.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1719.html

|title=Allister (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

On 8 June U-504 struck twice, east of the Yucatán Peninsula. At 06:59 she sank the unescorted 3,901 GRT Honduran merchant ship Tela with two torpedoes, sinking her within five minutes.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1760.html

|title=Tela (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} At 18:06 the U-boat opened fire with her deck gun on the unescorted British 1,512 GRT merchant ship Rosenborg, after missing the ship with two torpedoes. She fired 60 shells, of which about 30 hit. Four of the crew were killed, the remaining 23 were later picked up and landed in Panama.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1757.html

|title=Rosenborg (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

The U-boat struck again twice in a single day, 11 June, off Honduras. She sank the unescorted Dutch 4,282 GRT passenger ship Crijnssen at 02:10 with three torpedoes,{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1782.html

|title=Crijnssen (Steam passenger ship)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} then the unescorted and unarmed American 4,846 GRT merchant ship American at 18:01. The ship, carrying 6,500 tons of manganese ore, coffee, gunny sacks, jute and oil, from Santos, Brazil, to New Orleans, was hit by two torpedoes, and then a third eleven minutes later. The ship sank in 25 minutes. The crew of eight officers and 30 men abandoned ship.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1785.html

|title=American (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} Finally, on 14 June, she torpedoed and sank the Latvian 3,280 GRT cargo ship Regent.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1798.html

|title=Regent (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} U-504 arrived back at Lorient on 7 July after 67 days at sea.

=Fourth patrol=

U-504 left Lorient again on 19 August 1942 and sailed south to the waters off South Africa as part of Wolfpack Eisbär.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1074.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 19 Aug 1942 to 11 Dec 1942

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} There, on 17 October, about {{convert|450|nmi}} south of Cape Town, she torpedoed and sank the unescorted British 5,970 GRT Empire Chaucer.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2281.html

|title=Empire Chaucer (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} On the 23rd she sank the British 5,669 GRT {{SS|City of Johannesburg||2}},{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2530.html

|title=City of Johannesburg (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} and on the 26th she attacked the unescorted American 7,176 GRT Liberty ship Anne Hutchinson. The crew abandoned their vessel after she was hit by two torpedoes and fatally damaged. However the ship remained afloat, and on the 29th was taken in tow by the South African armed trawler HMSAS David Haigh (T13) and a harbour tug. Lacking sufficient power to tow the ship to port explosive charges were set, cutting the ship in two. The aft section sank, and the fore section was towed into Port Elizabeth. Part of the crew were picked up at sea, while the rest made it to land in their lifeboats.

U-504 sank two more British merchant ships on 31 October, about {{convert|200|nmi}} east of Durban. First the unescorted 7,041 GRT Empire Guidon,{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2337.html

|title=Empire Guidon (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} then the unescorted 5,113 GRT Reynolds, which, hit amidships and in the stern, capsized and sank within seconds.other sources credit the raider Michel with sinking Reynolds

Finally on 3 November she sank the unescorted and unarmed Brazilian 5,187 GRT cargo ship Porto Alegre en route from Rio de Janeiro to Durban, off Port Elizabeth. Hit by a single torpedo, the crew abandoned ship before the U-boat delivered the coup de grâce. Only one crew member was lost. The survivors were questioned by the Germans, and later made landfall about {{convert|50|nmi}} from Port Elizabeth on 7 November.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2360.html

|title=Porto Alegre (Steam merchant)

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} U-504 arrived back at Lorient on 11 December 1942 after a patrol lasting 115 days.

=Fifth and sixth patrol=

U-504 left Lorient on 19 January 1943, now under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Luis, and headed out into the Atlantic waters south of the Azores. She was subjected to attacks by unidentified Allied aircraft outbound on 21 January and inbound on 12 March, but was not damaged by either.{{cite web

|url=http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=504

|title=U-Boat Operations U-504

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols

|access-date=25 January 2010

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325041757/http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=504

|archive-date=25 March 2006

|url-status=dead

}} She returned to Lorient on 24 March after 65 days at sea, without making any successful attacks.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1075.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 19 Jan 1943 to 24 Mar 1943

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

Her next patrol took her to the waters south of Greenland between 21 April and 29 May 1943, again without result.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1076.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 21 Apr 1943 to 29 May 1943

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}}

=Seventh patrol=

U-504{{'}}s final patrol began on 27 July 1943 under the newly promoted Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Luis.{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1077.html

|title=Patrol of U-boat U-504 from 27 Jul 1943 to 30 Jul 1943

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=U-boat patrols - uboat.net

|access-date=25 January 2010

}} On 30 July the U-boat was sunk with all 53 hands, north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, at position {{coord|45|33|N|10|56|W|dim:400000|display=inline,title}}, by depth charges from the British {{sclass|Black Swan|sloop|1}}s {{HMS|Kite|U87|6}}, {{HMS|Woodpecker|U08|2}}, {{HMS|Wren|U28|2}} and {{HMS|Wild Goose|U45|2}}.

=Wolfpacks=

U-504 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

  • Eisbär (25 August – 1 September 1942){{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/79.html

|title=Wolfpack Eisbär

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=10 June 2015

}}

  • Rochen (16 February – 1 March 1943){{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/75.html

|title=Wolfpack Rochen

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=10 June 2015

}}

  • Tümmler (1 – 22 March 1943){{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/88.html

|title=Wolfpack Tümmler

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=10 June 2015

}}

  • Amsel 1 (3 – 6 May 1943){{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/108.html

|title=Wolfpack Amsel 1

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=10 June 2015

}}

  • Elbe (7 – 10 May 1943){{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/123.html

|title=Wolfpack Elbe

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=10 June 2015

}}

  • Elbe 2 (10 – 14 May 1943){{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/125.html

|title=Wolfpack Elbe 2

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=10 June 2015

}}

Summary of raiding history

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

! Ship Name

! Nationality

! Tonnage
(GRT)

! Fate{{Cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u504.html

|title=Ships hit by U-504

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=28 January 2014

}}

align="right"|22 February 1942

|align="left" |Republic

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

|align="right"|5,287

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|23 February 1942

|align="left" |W.D. Anderson

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

|align="right"|10,227

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|26 February 1942

|align="left" |Mamura

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

|align="right"|8,245

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|16 March 1942

|align="left" |Stangarth

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

|align="right"|5,966

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|29 May 1942

|align="left" |Allister

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

|align="right"|1,597

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|8 June 1942

|align="left" |Rosenborg

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

|align="right"|1,512

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|8 June 1942

|align="left" |Tela

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

|align="right"|3,901

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|11 June 1942

|align="left" |American

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

|align="right"|4,846

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|11 June 1942

|align="left" |Crijnssen

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

|align="right"|4,282

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|14 June 1942

|align="left" |Regent

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

|align="right"|3,280

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|17 October 1942

|align="left" |Empire Chaucer

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

|align="right"|5,970

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|23 October 1942

|align="left" |City of Johannesburg

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

|align="right"|5,669

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|26 October 1942

|align="left" |Anne Hutchinson

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

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left" |Total loss

align="right"|31 October 1942

|align="left" |Empire Guidon

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

|align="right"|7,041

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|31 October 1942

|align="left" |Reynolds

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

|align="right"|5,113

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|3 November 1942

|align="left" |Porto Alegre

|align="left" |{{flag|Brazil|1889}}

|align="right"|5,187

|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

}}

{{Refend}}

External links

  • {{Cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u504.htm

|title=The Type IXC boat U-504

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

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

|access-date=7 December 2014

}}

{{German Type IXC submarines}}

{{July 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0504}}

Category:German Type IX submarines

Category:U-boats commissioned in 1941

Category:U-boats sunk in 1943

Category:U-boats sunk by British warships

Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges

Category:World War II submarines of Germany

Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean

Category:1941 ships

Category:Ships built in Hamburg

Category:Submarines lost with all hands

Category:Maritime incidents in July 1943