 "U-217" was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), twelve torpedoes, one 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.