U-185
Type | IXC/40 | |||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||
| Laid down | 1 Jul 1941 | AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1025) | ||
| Launched | 2 Mar 1942 | |||
| Commissioned | 13 Jun 1942 | Kptlt. August Maus (Knights Cross) | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 3 patrols | 13 Jun 1942 - 31 Oct 1942 4. Flottille (training) 1 Nov 1942 - 24 Aug 1943 10. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 9 ships sunk for a total of 62,761 GRT 1 ship damaged for a total of 6,840 GRT | |||
| Fate | Sunk 24 Aug, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic, in position 27.00N, 37.06W, by depth charges from 3 Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of the American escort carrier USS Core. 29 dead and 22 survivors. | |||
See the 10 ships hit by U-185 - View the 3 war patrols
14 men from U-604 also perished on this boat that had previously saved them.
Wolfpack operations
U-185 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Westwall (25 Nov 1942 - 25 Dec 1942)
Attacks on this boat
10 Mar 1943
Attacking convoy KG 123 in the Caribbean (sinking 2 ships) the boat was counter-attacked and forced to abort its second attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 219)
14 Jun 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Whitley (10 OTU RAF/G)
U-564 was sunk in this attack. The damaged aircraft had to ditch at sea.
3 Aug 1943
While looking for the U-604 to attack her again a Ventura aircraft (Sqdn VB-107, pilot Prueher) instead found the U-185 and attacked her with depth charges and wounding one man. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 371)
11 Aug 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:An American B-24 Liberator (Sqdn VB-107). Shot down while alongside the wounded U-604.
4 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
We have a detailed article on the sinking of U-185 with scores of action photos.
12 Jul 1943. On 12 July 1943 some 90 miles off Recife Brazil the boat was attacked by an American B-24 Liberator bomber (VB-107/B-7). The boat was not damaged much and reported the attack by radio, although the bomber crew believed the boat to have sustained serious blows.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-185 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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