German submarine U-517

German submarine U-517 was a Type IXC U-boat of the Nazi Germany's navy (Kriegsmarine) during World War II.

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as Werk 313 on 24 September 1940, launched on 30 December 1941 and commissioned on 21 March 1942 with Kapitänleutnant Paul Hartwig in command.

U-517 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 21 March 1942. She was re-assigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 September.

She carried out two patrols and sank eight ships. She was sunk by British carrier aircraft in November 1942.

1st patrol
The boat departed Kiel on 8 August 1942, moved through the North Sea and negotiated the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean and attacked Allied shipping in the area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

One of her early victims was the Arlyn. This ship had already been torpedoed by U-165. U-517 finished her off on 28 August 1942.

She also sank the Donald Stewart on 3 September 1942 northeast of Cape Whittle. The Canadian escort HMCS Weyburn (K173) tried to ram, but the distance between the two vessels was too great. U-517 then evaded a depth charge pattern. A few hours later, she was attacked by a Digby aircraft of No. 10 Squadron RCAF; but the depth charges detonated prematurely, causing more damage to the aircraft than to the U-boat.

The submarine subsequently sank the Canadian corvette HMCS Charlottetown (K244) about 5 nmi off Cap-Chat on 11 September.

U-517 docked at Lorient in occupied France on 19 October 1942.

2nd patrol and loss
The boat departed Lorient on 17 November 1942 and sailed west. She was hardly out of the Bay of Biscay when she was sunk by Fairey Albacores of 817 Naval Air Squadron from the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38).

One man died; there were 52 survivors.