U-231
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 7 Dec, 1940 | |||
| Laid down | 30 Jan, 1942 | Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 661) | ||
| Launched | 1 Oct, 1942 | |||
| Commissioned | 14 Nov, 1942 | Kptlt. Wolfgang Wenzel | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 3 patrols | 14 Nov, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1943 5. Flottille (training) 1 May, 1943 - 13 Jan, 1944 3. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||
| Fate | Sunk 13 Jan, 1944 north-east of the Azores, in position 44.15N, 20.38W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (Sqdn 172/L). 7 dead and 43 survivors. | |||
Wolfpack operations
U-231 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Star (28 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)
Fink (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 1943)
Elbe I (11 May, 1943 - 13 May, 1943)
Attacks on this boat
22 Apr, 1943
At 03.00 hours, a British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn 190/T) attacked U-231 with 2 bombs and machine-gun fire southeast of Iceland. The boat was not damaged, but one man was lost overboard. [Obersteuermann Walter Krause]
At 12.29 hours, the boat was attacked by a British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn 190/E) with 4 bombs and again escaped undamaged.
23 Apr, 1943
An unknown aircraft attacked the boat and flooded its conning tower. The boat survived and reached France on May 31 but not before being attacked again by another unknown aircraft. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 335)
21 May, 1943
In the late evening, the boat was attacked with a bomb by an American Avenger aircraft (USN VC-9 from USS Bogue (CVE 9), pilot LtCdr Drane) near convoy ON-184. A leak in the stern trimming tank caused chlorine gas in the after battery, forcing U-231 to return to base. Because both radio transmitters had been damaged, the boat did not respond on calls by the BdU and was considered lost for a few days, until U-305 reported the mishap.
13 Jan, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 172/L). The boat was lost in this attack.
4 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from the boat
22 Apr, 1943
A Catalina aircraft attacked U-231 with 2 bombs and machine guns. The boat wasn´t damaged, but one man was lost overboard. [Obersteuermann Walter Krause]
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
 German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 |