U-402

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep, 1939

Laid down

22 Apr, 1940

Danziger Werft, Danzig (werk 103)

Launched

28 Dec, 1940

Commissioned

21 May, 1941

Kptlt. Siegfried Freiherr von Forstner (Knights Cross)

Commanders

21 May, 1941 - 13 Oct, 1943

KrvKpt. Baron Siegfried von Forstner (Knights Cross)

Career

8 patrols

21 May, 1941 - 1 Oct, 1941 3. Flottille (training)
1 Oct, 1941 - 13 Oct, 1943 3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

14 ships sunk for a total of 70.434 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk for a total of 602 GRT
3 ships damaged for a total of 28.682 GRT

Fate

Sunk 13 Oct, 1943 in the middle of the North Atlantic, in position 48.56N, 29.41W, by an acoustic torpedo (Fido) from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-9) of the American escort carrier USS Card. 50 dead (all hands lost).

See the 18 ships hit by U-402 - View the 8 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-402 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Veilchen (24 Oct, 1942 - 6 Nov, 1942)
   Landknecht (22 Jan, 1943 - 28 Jan, 1943)
   Pfeil (2 Feb, 1943 - 9 Feb, 1943)
   Amsel I (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 1943)
   Elbe 2 (11 May, 1943 - 13 May, 1943)
   Leuthen (4 Sep, 1943 - 24 Sep, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

29 Apr, 1942
The U-boat was attacked at night with four depth charges by an US Navy PBY Catalina aircraft (VP-84), piloted by Lt(jg) Robert A. Proctor, after being located by radar about 20 miles south of Cape Lookout. (Sources: Ragnar J. Ragnarsson)

11 May, 1943
von Forstner had just slipped through the convoy screen of SC-129 and sunk 2 ships when one of its escorts, corvette HMS Gentian found the submerged boat and seriously damaged her. The boat aborted the patrol and reached France on 26 May. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 329)

7 Sep, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 172/D)

Another 2 Wellingtons were also involved in the attack, one of them had to crash land.

1 Oct, 1943
The boat was attacked by an American Ventura aircraft (VB-128, US Navy) but suffered no damage.

4 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-402 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.