Patrol info for U-53
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 29 Aug 1939 | Wilhelmshaven | 30 Sep 1939 | Kiel | 33 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Ernst-Günter Heinicke |
1WO Oblt. Heinrich Schonder |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-53
Legend
means a ship hit (sunk or damaged).
indicates an Allied attack on the boat.
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We have 29 daily positions for the 33 days U-53 was at sea.
Departure from Wilhelmshaven on 29 Aug 1939.
30 Aug 1939 - 31 Aug 1939 - 1 Sep 1939 - 2 Sep 1939 - 3 Sep 1939 - 4 Sep 1939 - 5 Sep 1939 - 6 Sep 1939 - 7 Sep 1939 - 8 Sep 1939 - 9 Sep 1939 - 10 Sep 1939 - 11 Sep 1939 - 12 Sep 1939 - 13 Sep 1939 - 14 Sep 1939 - 15 Sep 1939 - 16 Sep 1939 - 17 Sep 1939 - 18 Sep 1939 - 19 Sep 1939 - 20 Sep 1939 - 21 Sep 1939 - 22 Sep 1939 - 23 Sep 1939 - 24 Sep 1939 - 25 Sep 1939 - 26 Sep 1939 - 27 Sep 1939 - 28 Sep 1939 - 29 Sep 1939 -
Arrival at Kiel on 30 Sep 1939.
Ships hit by U-53 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1939 | U-53 | Ernst-Günter Heinicke |  | Cheyenne | 8,825 |  | br | |
| 17 Sep 1939 | U-53 | Ernst-Günter Heinicke | | Kafiristan | 5,193 | | br | |
| 14,018 | ||||||||
2 ships sunk (14,018 tons). Legend | ||||||||
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-53 during this patrol
17 Sep 1939
Several Swordfish aircraft from the British fleet carrier HMS Courageous attacked the boat with gunfire forcing the boat to crash dive. Some gunners had to be left topside when the boat dived, they perished. HMS Courageous was sunk later the same day by U-29. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 90)
About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.
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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.
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