U BOATS IN ACTION SOUTH ATLANTIC - U 154 U 199
23)U 197
Ordered 4 Nov 1940
Laid down 5 Jul 1941 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1043)
Launched 21 May 1942
Commissioned 10 Oct 1942 Kptlt. Robert Bartels
Commanders
10 Oct 1942 - 20 Aug 1943 KrvKpt. Robert Bartels (German Cross in Gold)
Career
1 patrol
10 Oct 1942 - 31 Mar 1943 4. Flotille (training)
1 Apr 1943 - 20 Aug 1943 12. Flotille (active service)
Successes U-197 had 3 ships sunk for a total of 21,267 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 7,181 GRT
In the south Atlantic U-197 sank 1 Dutch merchant BENAKAT with 4,763 GRT
Fate: Sunk 20 Aug, 1943 south of Madagascar, in position 28º40"S 42º36"E, by depth charges from 2 British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn. 259/C & 265/N).
67 Dead (all hands lost).
BENAKAT
