U-378

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct, 1939

Laid down

3 May, 1940

Howaldtswerke, Kiel (werk 9)

Launched

13 Sep, 1941

Commissioned

30 Oct, 1941

Kptlt. Alfred Hoschatt

Commanders

30 Oct, 1941 - 11 Oct, 1942	Alfred Hoschatt
18 Jun, 1942 - 10 Sep, 1942	Peter Schrewe
10 Sep, 1942 - 11 Oct, 1942	Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche (in deputize) -- acting
12 Oct, 1942 - 20 Oct, 1943	Kptlt. Erich Mäder

Career

11 patrols

30 Oct, 1941 - 28 Feb, 1942  8. Flottille (training)
1 Mar, 1942 - 30 Jun, 1942  3. Flottille (front boat)
1 Jul, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1943  11. Flottille (front boat)
1 May, 1943 - 20 Oct, 1943  3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 warship sunk for a total of 1.920 tons

Fate

Sunk 20 Oct, 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 47.40N, 28.27W, by depth charges from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC 13) of the US escort carrier USS Core. 48 dead (all hands lost).

See the 1 ships hit by U-378 - View the 11 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-378 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Star (28 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)
   Fink (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 1943)
   Leuthen (6 Sep, 1943 - 24 Sep, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

29 Mar, 1942
The attack by the British destroyer HMS Fury on 29 March, 1942 in position 72.15N, 34.22E believed to have sunk the U-585 was actually against the U-378 causing no damage. (Sources: 1977-01-01, Claude Huan)

13 Oct, 1943
The boat was attacked by a Fido homing torpedo from an Avenger aircraft but the torpedo missed the boat. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 447)

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-378 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.