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 (front boat)
Successes1 ship sunk for a total of 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).

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
(Last revised by Axel Niestlé during January 1997. More on revised fates.)

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.

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 damages.

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.



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 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.
U-Boats at War. Showell, Jak P. Mallmann, 2001.



Related page:
U-boats Missing in Action.