German submarine U-597

German submarine U-597 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was a member of eight wolfpacks, carried out two patrols but sank no ships.

She was sunk southwest of Iceland by a British aircraft, in October 1942.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 13 January 1941 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as 'werk' 573, launched on 1 October and commissioned on 20 November under the command of kapitänleutnant Eberhard Bopst.

She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla from 20 November 1941 for training and the 1st flotilla from 1 July 1942 for operations.

1st patrol
U-597 departed Kiel on 12 October 1942 and headed for the Atlantic Ocean. Her route took her through the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands toward Newfoundland

She arrived in Brest in occupied France on 16 August.

2nd patrol and loss
She departed Brest on 16 September and was sunk less than a month later on 12 October by depth charges dropped by a British B-24 Liberator of No. 120 Squadron RAF.

Forty-nine men died in U-597; there were no survivors.