U-223
Type | VIIC | |||||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||||
| Laid down | 15 Jul 1941 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 653) | ||||
| Launched | 16 Apr 1942 | |||||
| Commissioned | 6 Jun 1942 | Oblt. Karl-Jürgen Wächter | ||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 6 patrols | 6 Jun 1942 - 31 Jan 1943 8. Flottille (training) 1 Feb 1943 - 31 Oct 1943 6. Flottille (front boat) 1 Nov 1943 - 30 Mar 1944 29. Flottille (front boat) | ||||
| Successes | 2 ships sunk for a total of 12,556 GRT 1 warship sunk for a total of 1,935 tons 1 ship a total loss for a total of 4,970 GRT 1 warship a total loss for a total of 1,300 tons | |||||
| Fate | Sunk 30 Mar 1944 in the Mediterranean north of Palermo, in position 38.48N, 14.10E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Laforey and HMS Tumult and the British escort destroyers HMS Hambledon and HMS Blencathra. 23 dead and 27 survivors. | |||||
See the 5 ships hit by U-223 - View the 6 war patrols
Wolfpack operations
U-223 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Haudegen (22 Jan 1943 - 2 Feb 1943)
Nordsturm (2 Feb 1943 - 9 Feb 1943)
Haudegen (9 Feb 1943 - 15 Feb 1943)
Taifun (15 Feb 1943 - 17 Feb 1943)
Amsel (25 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
Amsel II (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Elbe 2 (11 May 1943 - 13 May 1943)
Attacks on this boat
1 Mar 1943
At 12.42 hours, the boat was attacked by the British Fortress Mk.II FL463 (59 Sqdn RAF/D, pilot F/O N. Barson) in the North Atlantic. AA fire hit the aircraft during the attack run and the seven depth charges overshot. U-223 then crash-dived and escaped with only light damages. The Fortress had been more badly hit, but made it back to base. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
11 May 1943
The British destroyer HMS Hesperus depth charged the U-223 to the surface and then rammed her on 11 May. 2 men were lost overboard, U-359 rescued one of them and transferred him back to U-223 on 14 May as she had managed to escape the destroyer. U-223 (unable to dive) returned to port on 24 May but did not sail again until 14 Sept while being repaired. [Matrosengefreiter Heinz Hoog]
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from the boat
11 May 1943
The British destroyer HMS Hesperus depth charged the U-223 to the surface and then rammed her on 11 May. 2 men were lost overboard, U-359 rescued one of them and transferred him back to U-223 on 14 May as she had managed to escape the destroyer. U-223 returned to port on 24 May but did not sail again until 14 Sept while being repaired. [Matrosengefreiter Heinz Hoog]
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
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