German Submarine U-584
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-584 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-584 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 21 August 1941, followed by active service on 1 December 1941 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In 10 patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 18,478 gross register tons (GRT) and one warship of 206 tons.
US Saboteur Landing
On 25 May 1942, the boat departed Brest, France for a special mission as part of Operation Pastorius. On 18 June, she landed a 4-man saboteur team just south of Jacksonville, Florida. This was one of two teams landed within a week of each other on the US east coast; the other team came aboard U-202. The boat then returned safely to Brest on 22 July.
Wolfpacks
U-584 took part in 16 wolfpacks, namely:
- Ulan (25 December 1941 – 10 January 1942)
- Stier (29 August – 2 September 1942)
- Vorwärts (2 – 26 September 1942)
- Luchs (27 – 29 September 1942)
- Letzte Ritter (29 September – 1 October 1942)
- Falke (4 – 19 January 1943)
- Landsknecht (19 – 28 January 1943)
- Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
- Löwenherz (1 – 10 April 1943)
- Lerche (10 – 15 April 1943)
- Specht (21 April – 4 May 1943)
- Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)
- Elbe (7 – 10 May 1943)
- Elbe 1 (10 – 14 May 1943)
- Leuthen (15 – 24 September 1943)
- Rossbach (24 September – 6 October 1943)
Fate
U-584 was sunk on 31 October 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 49°14′N 31°55′W / 49.233°N 31.917°W, by depth charges from US Avenger aircraft operating from escort carrier USS Card. All hands were lost.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 January 1942 | M-175 | ![]() |
206 | Sunk |
11 September 1942 | Empire Oil | ![]() |
8,029 | Sunk |
11 September 1942 | Hindanger | ![]() |
4,884 | Sunk |
5 May 1943 | West Madaket | ![]() |
5,565 | Sunk |