German submarine U-217 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
As one of the six German Type VIID submarines, U-217 had a displacement of 965t when at the surface and 1080t while submerged. She had a total length of 76.9m (252.3feet), a pressure hull length of 59.8m (196.2feet), a beam of 6.38m (20.93feet), a height of 9.7m (31.8feet), and a draught of 5.01m (16.44feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750shp for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16- and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-217 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), twelve torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 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.
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 . The wreck lies at, near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
U-217 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 August 1942 | Sea Gull D |  United Kingdom | 75 | Sunk | |
| 14 December 1942 | Etna |  Sweden | 2,619 | Sunk | |
| 3 February 1943 | Rhexnor | United Kingdom | 7,957 | Sunk |