German submarine U-508

	U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-508
Ordered	20 October 1939
Builder	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number	304
Laid down	24 September 1940
Launched	30 July 1941
Commissioned	20 October 1941
Fate	Sunk on 12 November 1943 in the Bay of Biscay by a US aircraft
General characteristics
Class & type	Type IXC submarine
Displacement	1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced; 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged;
Length	76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a; 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a; 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power	4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels); 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced; 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged;
Range	13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern); 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes; 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds); 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 AA gun; 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns;
Service record
Part of	4th U-boat Flotilla; 20 October 1941 – 30 June 1942; 10th U-boat Flotilla; 1 July 1942 – 12 November 1943;
Identification codes	M 36 926
Commanders	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Georg Staats; 20 October 1941 – 12 November 1943
Operations	6 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 25 June – 15 September 1942; 2nd patrol:; 17 October 1942 – 6 January 1943; 3rd patrol:; 22 February – 15 March 1943; 4th patrol:; 29 – 31 May 1943; 5th patrol:; a. 7 June – 14 September 1943; b. 1 – 3 November 1943; 6th patrol:; 9 – 12 November 1943;
Victories	14 merchant ships sunk (74,087 GRT)

German submarine U-508 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 304 on 24 September 1940, launched on 30 July 1941 and commissioned on 20 October with Oberleutnant zur See Georg Staats in command.

U-508 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 20 October 1941. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 July 1942.

She carried out six patrols and sank 14 ships. She was sunk by an American aircraft on 12 November 1943.