List of all U-boats

U-312

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down10 Apr 1942 Flender Werke AG, Lübeck (werk 312)
Launched27 Feb 1943
Commissioned21 Apr 1943Oblt. Kurt-Heinz Nicolay
Commanders
21 Apr 1943 - 1 Dec 1944  Kptlt. Kurt-Heinz Nicolay
2 Dec 1944 - 31 Jan 1945  Oblt. (R) Friedrich-Georg Herrle (German Cross in Gold)
1 Feb 1945 - 9 May 1945  Oblt. Jürgen von Gaza
Career
8 patrols
21 Apr 1943-30 Nov 1943  8. Flottille (training)
1 Dec 1943-31 Dec 1943  6. Flottille (active service)
1 Jan 1944-31 Aug 1944  11. Flottille (active service)
1 Sep 1944-8 May 1945  13. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 9 May 1945.

Transferred to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, on 19 May 1945, later to Lisahally and Loch Ryan.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 29 Nov, 1945 in position 55.35N, 07.54W.

Final location

View the 8 war patrols

The U-boats that were in the Narvik area at the end of the war were all moved to the Skjomenfjord upon Allied orders to avoid conflicts with the Norwegians on 12 May. On 15 May, a German convoy of five ships (the fleet tender Grille with the staff of FdU Norwegen aboard, the fleet oiler Kärnten, the repair ship Kamerun and the depot ships Huascaran and Stella Polaris) and 15 U-boats (U-278, U-294, U-295, U-312, U-313, U-318, U-363, U-427, U-481, U-668, U-716, U-968, U-992, U-997 and U-1165) left for transfer to Trondheim, but was intercepted after two days by the 9th Escort Group off the Norwegian coast and officially capitulated. While the ships were allowed to proceed to Trondheim, the U-boats were escorted to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, arriving on 19 May. All U-boats were later that month transferred to Lisahally or Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight.

Wolfpack operations

U-312 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Isegrim (25 Jan 1944 - 27 Jan 1944)
   Werwolf (8 Feb 1944 - 28 Feb 1944)
   Thor (17 Mar 1944 - 5 Apr 1944)
   Donner (5 Apr 1944 - 10 Apr 1944)
   Donner & Keil (30 Apr 1944 - 3 May 1944)
   Trutz (3 May 1944 - 11 May 1944)
   Grimm (9 Sep 1944 - 1 Oct 1944)
   Panther (20 Oct 1944 - 4 Nov 1944)
   Hagen (13 Mar 1945 - 21 Mar 1945)
   Faust (19 Apr 1945 - 1 May 1945)

General notes on this boat

11 May 1944. On 11 May, 1944 U-312 had to return to base due to technical problems with the engines.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in November 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-312 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Hammer

Media links


The Grey Wolves of Eriboll

David M. Hird


The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942-1947

Madsen, Chris


amazon.com
($ 58.77)


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel




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