U-380

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

1 Oct 1940

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 11)

Launched

5 Nov 1941

Commissioned

22 Dec 1941

Kptlt. Josef Röther

Commanders

22 Dec 1941	-	Nov, 1943		Kptlt. Josef Röther
Dec, 1943	-	11 Mar 1944		Kptlt. Albrecht Brandi (Knights Cross)

Career
11 patrols

22 Dec 1941	-	31 Aug 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942	-	30 Nov 1942	6. Flottille (active service)
1 Dec 1942	-	11 Mar 1944	29. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 14,063 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 7,191 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 7,178 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 1200hrs on 11 March, 1944 in the Mediterranean near Toulon, France, in position 43.07N, 05.55E, by US air attack. 1 dead, unknown number of survivors.

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-380 - View the 11 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-380 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Stier (29 Aug 1942 - 2 Sep 1942)
   Vorwärts (2 Sep 1942 - 25 Sep 1942)
   Delphin (5 Nov 1942 - 12 Nov 1942)
   Wal (12 Nov 1942 - 15 Nov 1942)

Attacks on this boat and other events

12 Sep 1942
Escorts from convoy ON 127 damaged the boat - causing a diesel engine to fail - forcing the boat to abort its attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 31.)

11 Mar 1944
Sunk at 1200hrs on 11 March, 1944 in the Mediterranean near Toulon, France, in position 43.07N, 05.55E, by US air attack. There was one fatality. [Maschinenmaat Jonny Christoph]

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

10 May 1943. On 10 May, 1943 in the Mediterranean, U-380 rescued five German soldiers escaping from Tunisia in a small boat. She brought them to port at La Spezia, Italy on 16 May.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-380 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.