U-343
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 20 Jan, 1941 | |||
| Laid down | 1 Apr, 1942 | Nordseewerke, Emden (werk 215) | ||
| Launched | 21 Dec, 1942 | |||
| Commissioned | 18 Feb, 1943 | Ltnt. Wolfgang Rahn | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 4 patrols | 18 Feb, 1943 - 31 Oct, 1943 8. Flottille (training) 1 Nov, 1943 - 31 Jan, 1944 3. Flottille (front boat) 1 Feb, 1944 - 10 Mar, 1944 29. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||
| Fate | Sunk 10 March, 1944 in the Mediterranean south of Sardina, in position 38.07N, 09.41E, by depth charges from the British minesweeping trawler HMS Mull. 51 dead (all hands lost). | |||
Attacks on this boat
7 Jan, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 36/Y)
The boat survived a swamp operation, shooting down one of its attackers.
8 Jan, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 179/R, pilot W. F. M. Davidson).The aircraft dropped six depth charges but the boat was not seriously hurt.
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-343 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 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: Dark Sky, Deep Water, Franks, Norman, 1997 (transl.) 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 |