U-202

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep 1939

Laid down

18 Mar 1940

F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 631)

Launched

10 Feb 1941

Commissioned

22 Mar 1941

Kptlt. Hans-Heinz Linder

Commanders

22 Mar 1941 - 1 Sep 1942	Kptlt. Hans-Heinz Linder
2 Sep 1942 - 2 Jun 1943	Kptlt. Günter Poser

Career

9 patrols

22 Mar 1941 - 1 Jun 1941 1. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1941 - 2 Jun 1943 1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

9 ships sunk for a total of 34,615 GRT
5 ships damaged for a total of 42,618 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 0030hrs on 2 June, 1943 south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 56.12N, 39.52W, by depth charges and gunfire from the British sloop HMS Starling. 18 dead and 30 survivors.

See the 14 ships hit by U-202 - View the 9 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-202 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Rochen (16 Feb 1943 - 25 Feb 1943)
Tümmler (27 Feb 1943 - 19 Mar 1943)

Attacks on this boat

8 Sep 1942
While outbound in the Bay of Biscay the boat was attacked by British aircraft but sustained only damages to two of its torpedoes and continued its patrol. Date is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 52.)

29 Sep 1942
While attacking a big tanker off Trinidad the boat was attacked by depth charges from an Allied aircraft. The explosions damaged its air compressor severely limiting its ability to dive. She continued her patrol and sank 2 ships before heading back to France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 52.)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

12 Jun 1942. Saboteur landings in America
The boat departed Brest, France for a very special patrol on 27 May, 1942. On 12 June, after crossing the Atlantic (submerged at day, surfaced at night) they landed a saboteur team of 4 men on Long Island, USA. This was one of two such teams that landed within a week of each other on the US east coast, the other team came aboard U-584. They were to be the first of many such planned operations. The boat then returned safely to Brest on 25 July.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-202 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.