U-177 had several well-known Skippers including WILHELM SCHULZ (162-+-1986), Robert Gysae and Heinz Buchholz. This fairly rare Type IX-D2 was a stretched version of the Type IX-C, having a 25-foot section added in abaft the conning tower. As with most of the big boats such as Type IX-D2, X-B and the large Italian boats, she was assigned to the 12th U-Bootflottille at Bordeaux.

U-177 operated off Cape Town and in the Indian Ocean over November - December of 1942 and again over June - August 1943. During this latter patrol, a crewman was lost overboard on 23 September (homeward bound) and never recovered. Ten members of the crew were picked up and taken prisoner of war when the boat was sunk.

SHIPS SUNK BY U-177 under GYSAE
02.11.42	AEGEUS	Grk stmr	4,538 GRT
(this ship disintegrated with a huge explosion)
12.11.42	SCOTTISH CHIEF	Brit stmr	7,006 GRT
20.11.42	PIERCE BUTLER	Amer stmr	7,191 GRT
This was a new ship, built in 1942. She was owned by the US Maritime Commission and operated by Calmar SS Company. Her master was George Moodie and she drew 26’ 10” under her cargo of 8,900 tons of general merchandise. She was making 11 knots when attacked. Her armament consisted of one 5 inch, one 3 inch gun and four 20mm automatic guns. While sailing independently from Cape Town for Suez and not zigzagging, she was hit by two torpedoes from U-177 in the starboard side. The first hit forward of the engine room and the second at the #5 hatch. The radioman immediately sent out distress signals which were acknowledged. The Armed Guard got off eight rounds from the fwd 3 inch gun and seven rounds from the after 5 inch gun in an attempt to keep the U-boat submerged although there was little doubt Gysae had no intention of surfacing at that time. After ten minutes, the watch below secured the engines and all abandoned ship. The eight officers, thirty-three men and twenty-one Armed Guards got safely off the ship in four lifeboats and they watched their ship go down swiftly by the stern. The Royal Navy destroyer HMS FORTUNE (H-70) picked up all survivors safe and sound less than one day later, and landed them all at Durban, South Africa.
28.11.42	NOVA SCOTIA	Brit stmr	6,796 GRT
(this ship contained 765 Italian civilian internees)
30.11.42	LLANDAFF CASTLE	Brit stmr	10,799 GRT
07.12.42	SARONIKOS	Grk stmr	3,548 GRT
12.12.42	EMPIRE GULL	Brit stmr	6,408 GRT
14.12.42	SAWAHLOENTO	Neth stmr	3,085 GRT
06.07.43	JASPER PARK	Cana stmr	7,129 GRT
10.07.43	ALICE F. PALMER	Amer stmr	7,176 GRT
This brand new Liberty Ship, built in 1943, was owned by WSA and operated by American President Lines. Her Skipper was George Pedersen and she drew 15’ 6” in water ballast. She was making 11 knots when attacked. Her armament consisted of one 3-inch gun and nine 20mm automatic guns. She departed Columbo, Ceylon on 2 July independently and without escort, bound for Durban. One well-placed torpedo hit portside abaft of the #5 hold which destroyed the stern, blew off the prop and rudder, flooded the engine room, put the after 3 inch gun out of action and broke the ship’s back. All eight officers, thirty-five men and twenty-five Armed Guards safely abandoned ship in several lifeboats. U-177 surfaced and questioned the crewmen for about twenty minutes and after making sure no one was still aboard, fired about twenty shells into the hulk, which set the ship afire. U-177 then departed. By about 1700 hours, the ship had gone and the four lifeboats got separated. A British PBY rescued the survivors in the #3 boat about 60 miles SE of Madagascar. The other three boats landed safely at Mozambique although after a long sea journey. Boat #1 arrived 15 days after the attack, boat #2 16 days after & boat #4 landed 20 days afterwards. All hands survived.
29.07.43	CORNISH CITY	Brit mtrshp	4,952 GRT
05.08.43	EFTHALIA MARI	Grk stmr	4,195 GRT

This was a very impressive record for a U-Boat Type that was not really intended for combat but more for supply.