German submarine U-971

German submarine U-971 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 15 June 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 171, launched on 22 February 1943 and commissioned on 1 April 1943 under Oberleutnant zur See Walter Zeplien.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-971 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-971 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The vessel had a complement of between 44 and 60.

U-971 did not succeed in sinking or damaging any Allied ships.
On 24 June 1944 she was just west of the English Channel on her first patrol when she was depth charged by Liberator C Mk VI heavy bomber FL961/O of the Czechoslovak-manned No. 311 Squadron RAF and two s: the Royal Navy's and Royal Canadian Navy's. U-971 was sunk at with the loss of one member of her crew. 51 men survived and were rescued.