Life on board the U-Boat: Rare photographs show how the men who terrorised the high seas survived beneath the waves

These are the amazing images showing life on board U-976 - one of Hitler's most unsuccessful submarines during WWII

The U-Boat, which was manufactured in Kiel went on its first war patrol in November 1943 arriving in France in January 1944

During its 66-day war patrol, the vessel participated in six wolfpacks, but did not sink or damage a single allied vessel

These pictures, taken after the initials successes of the war in the Atlantic show naval officers enjoying themselves

The photographs were taken by the U-Boat's first officer Lieutenant Wilhelm Hinrichs and the collection is now up for auction

Hinrichs took photographs of the scuttled German destroyer Bernd von Arnim which was destroyed in a Norwegian fjord

The fascinating collection, which also includes wartime correspondence by Hinrichs, is expected to sell for $1,500

The archive is going under the hammer at Alexander Historical Auctions in Maryland on February 18

First Officer Lieutenant Wilhelm Hinrich served on two U-Boats during the war until his last vessel was sunk in the Bay of Biscay