|
U-997
U-boat
whose captain and crew disobeyed the order of Karl Dönitz to
surrender in May 1945 and instead proceeded to Argentina (as did U-530),
arriving August 1945.
Type: VII C
Built: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Keel laid: 24 July 1942
Launched: 31 March 1943
Commissioned: 6 May 1943
Commanders:
KL Hans Leilach, May 1943-March 1945
OL Heinz Schäffer, March-August 1945
Fate: Served primarily as a training boat until April 1945, when she departed
home waters for Norway and operations off the British coast. On news of the
surrender, most of the crew voted to try for Argentina, which they reached on
17 August 1945 after 105 days at sea, the last 66 entirely submerged with the
aid of a snorkel. The crew and boat were interned and turned over to
U.S. authorities, who sank U-997 off the American east coast 13 November
1946.
|
|
|
|