German submarine U-197 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 5 July 1941 at the AG Weser yard in Bremen as 'werk' 1043. She was launched on 21 May 1942, and commissioned on 10 October under the command of Korvettenkapitän Robert Bartels. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla at Stettin, U-197 was transferred to the 12th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 1 April 1943.