List of all U-boats

U-355

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered26 Oct 1939
Laid down4 May 1940 Flensburger Schiffsbau-Ges, Flensburg (werk 474)
Launched5 Jul 1941
Commissioned29 Oct 1941Kptlt. Günter La Baume
Commanders
29 Oct 1941 - 4 Apr 1944  KrvKpt. Günter La Baume
Career
9 patrols
29 Oct 1941-30 Jun 1942  5. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1942-4 Apr 1944  11. Flottille (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 5,082 GRT
Fate

Listed as missing in the Arctic Sea on April 4, 1944.

There is no explanation for its loss. 52 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, January 1997).

See the 1 ships hit by U-355 - View the 9 war patrols

U-355 reported for the last time on 1 April, 1944 from approximate position 73.03N, 13.10E while in pursuit of convoy JW.58.

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk 1 April, 1944 in the Barents Sea southwest of Bear Island, Norway, in position 73.07N, 10.21E, by depth charges from an Avenger aircraft (Sqdn. 846/H) from the British escort carrier HMS Tracker and the British destroyer HMS Beagle. (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. This attack was in fact against the U-673 inflicting medium damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-355 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Eisteufel (21 Jun 1942 - 9 Jul 1942)
   Nebelkönig (27 Jul 1942 - 14 Aug 1942)
   Eisbär (27 Mar 1943 - 15 Apr 1943)
   Monsun (19 Oct 1943 - 21 Oct 1943)
   Blitz (26 Mar 1944 - 4 Apr 1944)

Attacks on this boat

1 Apr 1944
The boat was attacked by an Avenger aircraft with rockets and suffered some damage.

1 recorded attack 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-355 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


U-Boats at War

Showell, Jak P. Mallmann


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

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay