U-213

Type

VIID

Ordered

16 Feb, 1940

Laid down

1 Oct, 1940

Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 645)

Launched

24 Jul, 1941

Commissioned

30 Aug, 1941

Oblt. Amelung von Varendorff *

Commanders

30 Aug, 1941 - 31 Jul, 1942

Oblt. Amelung von Varendorff

Career

3 patrols

30 Aug, 1941 - 31 Dec, 1941  5. Flottille (training)
1 Jan, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1942  1. Flottille (front boat)
1 May, 1942 - 31 Jul, 1942  9. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk 31 July, 1942 in the North Atlantic east of the Azores, in position 36.45N, 22.50W by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Erne, HMS Rochester and HMS Sandwich. 50 dead (all hands lost).

View the 3 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-213 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Pfadfinder (23 May, 1942 - 27 May, 1942)

Attacks on this boat

7 Feb, 1942
The escorts of convoy ON-63 prevented an attack by forcing the boat to dive, which was then slightly damaged by depth charges. (Sources: Rohwer/Ritschel)

15 May, 1942
The boat was slightly damaged by depth charges from a destroyer after being surprised on the surface in foggy weather in the Gulf of Maine. (Sources: Ritschel)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

* Oblt. von Varendorff was II WO during the raid of U-47 against Scapa Flow in Oct 1939.

On May 14, 1942 an Abwehr agent, Alfred Langbein, is landed on the coast near St. Martins in New Brunswick ("Operation Grete") by U-213 (von Varendorff). His mission was to inform about the sailing of convoys, which he did not accomplish. When he run out of money, in September 1944, he surrendered. The Canadians released him after the war.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-213 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.