Unterseeboot 573

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Unterseeboot 573 (U-573) was a Type VIIC submarine of the Kriegsmarine.

Her keel was laid down June 8, 1940 by Blohm + Voss of Hamburg. She was commissioned on June 5, 1941 with Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Heinsohn in command. Heinsohn commanded her for her entire career in the Kriegsmarine.

U-573 conducted four war patrols, sinking one ship displacing 5,289 tons.

On April 29, 1942, northwest of Algiers, U-573 was attacked with depth charges by Lockheed Hudsons of No. 233 Squadron RAF. Seriously damaged, she limped north to Spain, arriving in Cartagena on May 2. International agreements allowed ships in neutral ports 24 hours to make emergency repairs before they were to be interred. The Spanish authorities granted U-573 a three-month period for repairs, which prompted several strong protests from the British Embassy in Madrid. Realizing that even three months would not be enough to repair the boat, the Kriegsmarine sold the boat to Spain for 1.5 million Reichsmark. On August 2, 1942, at 10am, (one day before the three-month period was to expire), the Spanish navy commissioned the boat as the Spanish submarine G-7.

U-573's crew suffered no casualties during her career in the Kriegsmarine. In March 1943, Kptlt. Heinsohn went back to Germany, took command of U-438, and died with all his crew two months later.

G-7's repairs were completed in 1947, and she served the Spanish Navy until 1970.

One other U-boat was interred in Spain during World War II: U-760.

See Also: List of U-boats