U-228
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 7 Dec 1940 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 18 Oct 1941 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 658) | ||||||||
| Launched | 30 Jul 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 12 Sep 1942 | Oblt. Erwin Christophersen | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 6 patrols |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate | Stricken at Bergen, Norway 5 Oct, 1944. Broken up in 1944 - 45. | |||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-228 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Burggraf (24 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
Trutz 1 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
Geier 1 (30 Jun 1943 - 12 Jul 1943)
Schill (1 Nov 1943 - 16 Nov 1943)
Schill 1 (16 Nov 1943 - 22 Nov 1943)
Weddigen (22 Nov 1943 - 7 Dec 1943)
Attacks on this boat
7 May 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Halifax HR792 (58 Sqdn RAF/A, pilot Sgt N.F. Robertson, RAAF)
At 10.50 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the Halifax in the Bay of Biscay. The initial attack was broken off due to heavy AA fire, but the aircraft then made a strafing attack from the bow and released six depth charges, which overshot the boat and detonated about 25 metres astern. The attack gave U-228 a severe shaking and wounded the II WO and a seaman. The Germans observed several AA hits on the aircraft (misidentified as Lancaster) and saw smoke before crash-diving. The Halifax and its crew of seven men did not return from patrol and apparently crashed shortly after this attack.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)8 Jul 1943
At 19.40 hours, the boat was attacked by a British Catalina aircraft (210 Sqdn RAF/G, pilot F/O D.H. Clarke) west of Portugal. The aircraft had used its depth charges in an attack on U-641 two hours earlier, but nevertheless made a strafing run on U-228 when she was spotted on the surface. Its gunners fired 240 rounds and saw hits all over the hull, while the Germans claimed observing AA hits on the aircraft before crash-diving. They reported a Catalina probably shot down, but it was in fact undamaged. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
11 Jun 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Sunderland (Sqdn 228)
3 recorded attacks on this boat.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Men lost from the boat
7 May 1943
Lancaster aircraft attacked U-228 on 7 May wounding the II WO and a seaman. The boat escaped without serious damage.
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
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