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

13 Jun, 1942 - 24 Aug, 1943

Kptlt. August Maus (Knights Cross)

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

Conning Tower article
Our members area has a detailed article on the sinking of U-185 with scores of action photos.

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.