Ordered - 16 Jan 1940
Laid down - 11 Jan 1941 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 574)
Launched - 2 Oct 1941
Commissioned - 27 Nov 1941 Oblt. Gottfried Holtorf
Commanders - 27 Nov 1941 - 23 Jul 1943 KrvKpt. Gottfried Holtorf
Career
4 patrols 27 Nov 1941 - 30 Jun 1942 8. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1942 - 23 Jul 1943 6. Flottille (active service)
Successes - 2 ships sunk, total tonnage 9,295 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,197 GRT
Fate: Sunk on 23 July 1943 in the South Atlantic north-east of Natal, Brazil, in position 04.05S, 33.23W, by depth charges from three US Liberator aircraft (VB-107 USN/B-12, B-8 & B-6). 43 dead and 2 survivors.
German U-Boat U-598 was sunk 23 July
NAVY DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON
FOURTH AND LAST PATROL OF U-598
DEPARTURE
The prisoner stated that U-598 sailed from St. Nazaire late in June 1943. From other sources it was learned that the sailed 26 June
OPERATION AREA.
U-598 reached her operation area off the coast of
SINKING OF U 598
On 22 July 1943, planes from Bombing Squadron 107 sighted and attacked a U-boat in position 04 15' S., 33 05' W. The U-boat dived and no damage was claimed. Planes remained in the vicinity on a hold-down patrol. At about 0645 P, 23 July 1943, one of the planes sighted the wake of U-
The aircraft closed for attack, but in disengaging the bow guns, the selector switch was kicked into locked position, and the bombs failed to drop. U-598 opened fire with her
ABANDON SHIP!
The prisoner from U-598 stated that these explosions caused considerable damage. The radio equipment was rendered useless, the Diesel engines failed, the diving planes jammed, and oil and fresh water tanks were broken open. The plane circled above the U-boat for some time, signaling for reinforcements. Then two more planes appeared, Holtorf, realizing that the situation was hopeless, gave the order to abandon ship. The rubber boats were broken out and two of them launched. The third was found to be damaged. Six or seven men boarded each of the rubber boats and a few more succeeded in jumping into the sea before the second attack occurred.
SINKING.
At 0828 P in position 04º 35'S. 33º 30' W., one plane made a line attack with six bombs and 15 seconds later, the second plane attacked with six more bombs from abeam. Probably because of the force of the explosion, the first plane fell into the water out of control and disappeared. The U-boat sank rapidly. At the time of the sinking, about half of the crew of U-598 were trapped below deck. One rubber boat was about
It drifted out of sight and has not been heard of since. The second was close to U-598 and was sucked under with the U-boat. Two of the men -- the Executive Officer and an engine room rating succeeded in remaining afloat. They were in the water about 13 hours when they were sighted by a plane which dropped an inflated raft. Shortly thereafter, they were sighted and rescued by USS Seneca. The two survivors were landed at Recife.
By Capt. Jerry Mason USN Ret. www.uboatarchive.net
U 598 sunk during her career 2 ships and damaged another. They Were Empire Corporal, Standella And Michael Jebsen.
Above the PB4Y-1 B 6 from VPB 107 seen at Parnamirim Field with the Squadron Staff.