U-270

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

15 Oct 1941

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 35)

Launched

11 Jul 1942

Commissioned

5 Sep 1942

Oblt. Paul-Friedrich Otto

Commanders

5 Sep 1942	-	15 Jul 1944		Kptlt. Paul-Friedrich Otto
16 Jul 1944	-	13 Aug 1944		Oblt. Heinrich Schreiber

Career
6 patrols

5 Sep 1942	-	31 Mar 1943	8. Flottille (training)
1 Apr 1943	-	13 Aug 1944	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship a total loss, total tonnage 1,370 tons

Fate

Sunk at 0010hrs on 13 Aug, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle, in position 46.19N, 02.56W, by depth charges from an Australian Sunderland aircraft (RAAF Sqdn. 461/A). 71 survivors (no casualties).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-270 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-270 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Löwenherz (4 Apr 1943 - 10 Apr 1943)
   Lerche (10 Apr 1943 - 16 Apr 1943)
   Specht (21 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 5 May 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 23 Sep 1943)
   Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 3 Jan 1944)
   Borkum 1 (3 Jan 1944 - 6 Jan 1944)

Attacks on this boat

22 Sep 1943
The pressure hull was cracked by depth charges in an attack by convoy escorts in mid Atlantic, forcing the boat to return to base. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 423)

6 Jan 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British B-17 Fortress FA705 (206 Sqdn RAF/U, pilot F/L A. J. Pinhorn)

19.11 hours, N-NE of the Azores: the Fortress made two strafing runs without dropping bombs. After dropping four depth charges ahead of the boat during a third run, the starboard inner engine was hit by AA fire and the aircraft crashed into the sea, killing all eight crew. U-270 ran into the detonations, damaging all bow torpedo tubes, the sonar and batteries, and was forced to abort the patrol.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

13 Jun 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-17 Fortress (Sqdn 53/C)

Bay of Biscay, due south of Brest. U-270 was not damaged in this attack, but was already returning to base after being seriously damaged by a British Wellington (Sqdn 172/Y). The damage was so severe that the boat was paid off on July 1 1944. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 584)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

U-270 was paid off on 1 July 1944 due to extensive damage from aircraft attack (see Attacks). She was however re-commissioned in early August and sent on patrol, her last.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-270 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.