THE WOODEN CUPBOARD AND COFFEE MUGS ABOARD U-505 SUGGEST COMFORT, BUT 59 MEN LIVED IN A 292 FT IRON COFFIN ONLY SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN OUTSTRETCHED ARMS. SURROUNDED BY EQUIPMENT HANGING OR RATIONS STOWED IN EVERY AVAILABLE SPACE, THEY SHARED RACKS WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER CREW-MEMBER. ALWAYS IN THEIR THOUGHTS WAS THE FEAR THAT THIS CRUISE COULD BE THEIR LAST. AND FOR MOST IT WAS THE END. THE ZEAL OF A RUTHLESS REGIME COST THE LIVES OF 28,000 U-BOAT SAILORS. THE 70% LOSS RATE WAS THE HIGHEST IN THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. THE AVERAGE AGE OF A SAILOR IN THE ‘KREIGSMARINE UNTERSEE’ FORCE WAS JUST TWENTY-TWO.