German submarine U-568

German submarine U-568 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 27 April 1940 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 544, launched on 6 March 1941 and commissioned on 1 May 1941 under Kptlt. Joachim Preuss.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-568 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-568 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's service began on 1 May 1941 with training as part of the 3rd U-boat Flotilla. She transferred to the 29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 for active service, in the Mediterranean.

In five patrols she sank one merchant ship, two warships and damaged one warship.

Wolfpacks
She took part in four wolfpacks, namely
 * Grönland (10 – 23 August 1941)
 * Kurfürst (23 August – 2 September 1941)
 * Seewolf (2 – 8 September 1941)
 * Reissewolf (21 – 31 October 1941)

Fate
U-568 was sunk on 29 May 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea NE of Tobruk in position 32.7°N, 24.88333°W, by Royal Navy vessels, the destroyer HMS Hero (H99), and escort destroyers HMS Eridge (L68) and HMS Hurworth (L28). All 47 hands survived.