U-373

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep, 1939

Laid down

8 Dec, 1939

Howaldtswerke, Kiel (werk 4)

Launched

5 Apr, 1941

Commissioned

22 May, 1941

Oblt. Paul-Karl Loeser

Commanders

22 May, 1941 - 25 Sep, 1943	Kptlt. Paul-Karl Loeser
26 Sep, 1943 - 8 Jun, 1944	Detlef von Lehsten

Career

15 patrols

22 May, 1941 - 1 Sep, 1941 3. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1941 - 8 Jun, 1944 3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

3 ships sunk for a total of 10.263 GRT

Fate

Sunk 8 June, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest, France, in position 48.10N, 05.31W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 224/G). 4 dead and 47 survivors.

See the 3 ships hit by U-373 - View the 15 war patrols

The same aircraft also sank the U-441 only some 20 minutes later.

Wolfpack operations

U-373 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Lachs (15 Aug, 1942 - 27 Sep, 1942)
   Ungestüm (14 Dec, 1942 - 23 Dec, 1942)
   Neuland (6 Mar, 1943 - 12 Mar, 1943)
   Dranger (14 Mar, 1943 - 20 Mar, 1943)
   Seewolf (25 Mar, 1943 - 30 Mar, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

2 Mar, 1943
The boat was attacked by an American Liberator aircraft (USAAF A/S-Sqdn 1 / E) with 5 bombs and suffered medium damages, but remained on patrol after repairs by the crew. (Sources: Rohwer)

24 Jul, 1943
Near Madeira, Portugal, U-373 was attacked by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the escort carrier USS Santee on 24 July. The boat was damaged by a Fido homing torpedo hit killing 2 and wounding 7 men. The boat did not have to abort its mission. [Matrosenobergefreiter Franz Schulte, Matrosengefreiter Peter Regneri] (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 393)

3 Jan, 1944
The boat was attacked by British Wellington (Sqdn 612, pilot John B. Russell) which dropped depth charges. Another aircraft, this time a British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 224, pilot Harold R. Facey) assisted and dropped 8 more depth charges at the boat. U-373 was heavily damaged and reached Brest on Jan 4. Upon reaching port 2 unexploded depth charges were found on the tower and the boat had to leave port to jettison them (an extremely dangerous business) which they successfully did. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

27 Jul, 1943
U-373 was attacked by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the escort carrier USS Santee on 24 July. The boat was damaged by a Fido homing torpedo hit killing 2 and wounding 7 men. The boat did not have to abort its mission. [Matrosenobergefreiter Franz Schulte, Matrosengefreiter Peter Regneri]

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -