U-163

Type

IXC

 
Ordered25 Sep 1939
Laid down 8 May 1940 Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen (werk 702)
Launched1 May 1941
Commissioned21 Oct 1941Korvkpt. Kurt-Eduard Engelmann
Commanders
21 Oct 1941 - 13 Mar 1943  KrvKpt. Kurt-Eduard Engelmann
Career3 patrols 21 Oct 1941 - 31 Jul 1942  4. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942 - 13 Mar 1943  10. Flottille (front boat)
Successes3 ships sunk for a total of 15,011 GRT
1 warship a total loss for a total of 2,000 tons
Fate

Sunk 13 March, 1943 in the North Atlantic north-west of Cape Finisterre in position 45.05N, 15.00W by depth charges from the Canadian corvette HMCS Prescott. 57 dead (all hands lost).

See the 4 ships hit by U-163 - View the 3 war patrols

Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by FDS/NHB during April 1987. More on revised fates.

The attack from the American submarine USS Herring on 21 March, 1943 formerly credited with sinking U-163 was actually against a nonsub target or possibly a Spanish fishing boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-163 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.


There was another U-163 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 1 Jun 1918 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 21 Aug 1918. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 163 during WWI.