German submarine U-217

German submarine U-217 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Design
As one of the six German Type VIID submarines, U-217 had a displacement of 965 t when at the surface and 1080 t while submerged. She had a total length of 76.90 m, a pressure hull length of 59.80 m, a beam of 6.38 m, a height of 9.70 m, and a draught of 5.01 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 shp 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 16 - 16.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 69 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 11200 nmi at 10 kn. U-217 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), twelve torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun, in addition to five mine tubes with fifteen SMA mines. The boat had a complement of between forty-four.

Service history
She was laid down on 30 January 1941, launched on 15 November and commissioned on 31 January 1942, U-217 served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla in a training capacity before moving on to the operational 9th flotilla on 1 August 1942 until she was sunk. U-217 completed three patrols and sank three ships totalling.

She was sunk on 5 June 1943 in the mid-Atlantic with all hands by depth charges dropped by Grumman TBF Avengers from the escort carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9). The wreck lies at 30.3°N, -42.83333°W, near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Wolfpacks
U-217 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
 * Pirat (30 July – 3 August 1942)
 * Trutz (1 – 5 June 1943)