German submarine U-317

German submarine U-317 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
The submarine was laid down on 12 September 1942 at the Flender Werke at Lübeck, launched on 1 September 1943, and commissioned on 23 October 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Peter Rahlf.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-317 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-317 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun,, one Flak M42 and two C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

U-317 served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, and later with the 9th U-boat Flotilla in front-line service from 1 to 26 June 1944.
U-317s first patrol took her from Kiel in Germany to Egersund in Norway, between 31 May and 2 June 1944. She then sailed from Egersund on 21 June for her second and final patrol.
U-317 was sunk with all hands on 26 June 1944, northeast of the Shetland islands, in position, by depth charges dropped by a Liberator anti-submarine bomber of No. 86 Squadron RAF.