German submarine U-585

German submarine U-585 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out four patrols, but sank no ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.

The boat was sunk by a drifting German mine in the Barents Sea in March 1942.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 1 October 1940 at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as 'werk' 561, launched on 9 July 1941 and commissioned on 28 August under the command of Kapitänleutnant Ernst-Bernward Lohse.

She served with the 6th U-boat Flotilla from 28 August 1941 for training and stayed with that organization for operations until her loss, from 1 December 1941 to 30 March 1942.

1st patrol
U-585's first patrol was preceded by a trip to Trondheim then Neidenfjord [west northwest of Murmansk], both in Norway over Christmas and New Years Eve 1941-42. The patrol itself started in Neidenfjord on 15 January 1942 and finished in Kirkenes on the 21st.

2nd patrol
Her second foray was notable for the loss overboard of Fahnrich zur See [midshipman] Eberhard Vollmer on 5 February 1942 in the southern Barents Sea.

3rd patrol
The boat was attacked with depth charges by three enemy ships northeast of Kirkenes on 24 March 1942. The damage to the forward torpedo tubes was serious enough to require the submarine to return to her base.

4th patrol and loss
While in Varanfjord, the Soviet submarine M-171 fired both of her torpedoes at an unknown, but outbound U-boat. This can only have been U-585, although she did not report any attack.

She was sunk on 30 March 1942 by a German mine that had drifted from the 'Bantos-A' barrage.

Forty-four men died with U-585; there were no survivors.

Previously recorded fate
U-585 was sunk on 29 March 1942 by the British destroyer HMS Fury. It was later ascertained that this attack was against U-378 and caused no damage.

The boat was also claimed to be sunk by the Soviet destroyer Gremyashiy on 30 March 1942. This attack was against U-435 and was also inconclusive.