U-383
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||
| Laid down | 29 Mar 1941 | Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 14) | ||
| Launched | 22 Apr 1942 | |||
| Commissioned | 6 Jun 1942 | Oblt. Horst Kremser | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 4 patrols | 6 Jun 1942 - 30 Sep 1942 8. Flottille (training) 1 Oct 1942 - 1 Aug 1943 9. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 1 ship sunk for a total of 423 GRT | |||
| Fate | Sunk 1 Aug, 1943 west of Brest, France, in position 47.24N, 12.10W, by depth charges from a British Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn. 228/V). 52 dead (all hands lost). | |||
See the 1 ships hit by U-383 - View the 4 war patrols
Wolfpack operations
U-383 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Natter (1 Nov 1942 - 8 Nov 1942)
Habicht (12 Jan 1943 - 19 Jan 1943)
Haudegen (22 Jan 1943 - 15 Feb 1943)
Wildfang (25 Feb 1943 - 7 Mar 1943)
Amsel (25 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
Amsel II (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Elbe 2 (11 May 1943 - 13 May 1943)
Attacks on this boat
1 Aug 1943
The sinking of U-383
At 20.02 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the British Sunderland aircraft JM678 (228 Sqdn RAF/V, pilot F/L S. White) in the Bay of Biscay. AA fire hit the aircraft during the first attack run, holed the fuselage and shot away the starboard float and aileron. The Sunderland dropped seven depth charges in a second attack, straddling the U-boat from the starboard quarter and immediately headed home due to the damages recieved.
U-383 was last seen by the aircraft with a heavy list to port and men jumping overboard. Kremser reported to the BdU that they were unable to dive and the boat out of control. U-218, U-454 and U-706 were ordered to give assistance and air cover and the escort of three torpedo boats was promised for the next day. However, U-454 had been lost earlier that day and the nearby U-218 heard the attack but was unable to locate U-383 in the night. The search continued the next day but both U-boats were attacked by aircraft and the torpedo boats passed the area without sighting anything. U-383 apparently foundered during the night due to the extensive damages recieved in the air attack.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)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-383 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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