Wreck of U-593
Algeria /
Jijili /
World
/ Algeria
/ Jijili
/ Jijili
, 92 km from center (جيجل)
World / Algeria / Skikda
Second World War 1939-1945
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Assigned first to serve in the Atlantic, the U-593 completed three successful patrols against allied merchant shipping before she was ordered for duty in the Mediterranean Sea in October 1942. U-593's success continued in her new theatre and by December 1943 she had sortied on a further 10 successful patrols, accounting for 9 merchant ships and 1 warship sunk, 1 merchant and warship damaged and 1 merchant and warship declared total losses for a total of 55,184 tons on her 15 patrols.
Departing Toulon on December 1st, 1943 on her 16th war patrol, the U-593 steamed for the North African Coast under the command of Kptlt. Gerd Kelbling, the only Captain to serve with the ship. Arriving off the Algerian coast 10 days later, the U-593 quickly sighted an Allied convoy moving along the coast and moved in to attack. In a firing position shortly after dawn on December 12th, the U-593 sunk the convoy escort HMS Tynedale (L96) at 0710hrs, followed by a second escort vessel HMS Holcombe (L56) seven hours later despite fierce resistance from other escort ships.
Hastily withdrawing from the area of her attacks due to heavy opposition, the U-593 surfaced after dark on December 12th to recharge her batteries and was running on the surface when she was picked up on the radar of a British Wellington on patrol. The plane made a low and slow pass over the U-593 to identify it, and was subsequently hit by the AA gunners on the u-boat as it flew overhead. The plane's gunners returned fire but scored no hits before the U-593 passed into the darkness and submerged, but the submarines position was reported, and within the hour Destroyers were closing in.
Discovered submerged on the morning of December 12th by the USS Wainwright (DD-419) and several other surface ships, the U-593 and her crew engaged in a 32-hour submerged cat and mouse pursuit with three US and one British Destroyer. U-593 was depth charged several times without major damage, but in the evening of December 13th a well placed spread of depth charges by the Wainwright forced the U-593 to the surface. Gunners on the assembled surface craft quickly took the U-593 under considerable fire until her crew signaled their surrender. The Wainwright quickly dispatched a boarding party to secure the U-593 and her crew, but scuttling charges and damage to the sub sent her to the bottom at this location on December 13th, 1943. All of her crew survived the sinking and spent the remainder of the war as POW's.
www.uboat.net/boats/u593.htm
Departing Toulon on December 1st, 1943 on her 16th war patrol, the U-593 steamed for the North African Coast under the command of Kptlt. Gerd Kelbling, the only Captain to serve with the ship. Arriving off the Algerian coast 10 days later, the U-593 quickly sighted an Allied convoy moving along the coast and moved in to attack. In a firing position shortly after dawn on December 12th, the U-593 sunk the convoy escort HMS Tynedale (L96) at 0710hrs, followed by a second escort vessel HMS Holcombe (L56) seven hours later despite fierce resistance from other escort ships.
Hastily withdrawing from the area of her attacks due to heavy opposition, the U-593 surfaced after dark on December 12th to recharge her batteries and was running on the surface when she was picked up on the radar of a British Wellington on patrol. The plane made a low and slow pass over the U-593 to identify it, and was subsequently hit by the AA gunners on the u-boat as it flew overhead. The plane's gunners returned fire but scored no hits before the U-593 passed into the darkness and submerged, but the submarines position was reported, and within the hour Destroyers were closing in.
Discovered submerged on the morning of December 12th by the USS Wainwright (DD-419) and several other surface ships, the U-593 and her crew engaged in a 32-hour submerged cat and mouse pursuit with three US and one British Destroyer. U-593 was depth charged several times without major damage, but in the evening of December 13th a well placed spread of depth charges by the Wainwright forced the U-593 to the surface. Gunners on the assembled surface craft quickly took the U-593 under considerable fire until her crew signaled their surrender. The Wainwright quickly dispatched a boarding party to secure the U-593 and her crew, but scuttling charges and damage to the sub sent her to the bottom at this location on December 13th, 1943. All of her crew survived the sinking and spent the remainder of the war as POW's.
www.uboat.net/boats/u593.htm
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Coordinates: 37°37'57"N 5°57'58"E
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