Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-588

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-58818 September 1941 — 31 July 1942313 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-588
Builder
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Ordered
16 January 1940
Laid down
31 October 1940
Launched
23 July 1941
Commissioned
18 September 1941
Fate
Sunk on 31 July 1942 (1942)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-588 was a Type VIIC submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Blohm & Voss, Hamburg laid her keel on 31 October 1940. She entered service on 18 September 1941, having been launched on 23 July 1941.

612 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 313 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 31 July 1942. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 x 2 cm C/30 AA gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources