German submarine U-577

German submarine U-577 was a [German German Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC] U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 1 August 1940 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 553, launched on 15 May 1941 and commissioned on 3 July 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schauenburg.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-577 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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-577 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

The boat's career began with training at 7th U-boat Flotilla on 3 July 1941, followed by active service on 1 October 1941 as part of the 1st Flotilla. On 1 January 1942, she transferred to operations in the Mediterranean with 29th Flotilla, and was sunk just two weeks later.
In 3 patrols she sank no ships.

U-577 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

U-577 was sunk on 15 January 1942 in the Mediterranean NW of Mersa Matruh, in position, by depth charges from RN Swordfish from 815 Squadron. All hands were lost.