Type | VIIC | |||||||||||||||||
| Ordered | 23 Sep 1939 | |||||||||||||||||
| Laid down | 20 May 1940 | Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 104) | ||||||||||||||||
| Launched | 26 Feb 1941 | |||||||||||||||||
| Commissioned | 25 Jun 1941 | Oblt. Heinz-Ehlert Clausen | ||||||||||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 8 patrols |
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| Successes | 2 ships sunk, total tonnage 12,946 GRT | |||||||||||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 18 Aug, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic near Dakar, in position 13.42N, 17.36W, by depth charges from a French Wellington aircraft (Sqdn. 344/HZ697). 49 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, June 1993). | |||||||||||||||||
Previously recorded fate
- Sunk 18 Aug, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic near Dakar, in position 14.11N, 17.40W, by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn. 200/O). (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was also against the U-403 without inflicting heavy damages.
Wolfpack operations
U-403 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Aufnahme (7 Mar 1942 - 11 Mar 1942)
Blücher (11 Mar 1942 - 18 Mar 1942)
Bums (6 Apr 1942 - 14 Apr 1942)
Blutrausch (15 Apr 1942 - 18 Apr 1942)
Nebelkönig (7 Aug 1942 - 14 Aug 1942)
Trägertod (12 Sep 1942 - 19 Sep 1942)
Falke (15 Jan 1943 - 19 Jan 1943)
Haudegen (19 Jan 1943 - 15 Feb 1943)
Taifun (15 Feb 1943 - 20 Feb 1943)
Amsel (26 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
Amsel 4 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
Attacks on this boat
6 Feb 1943
The boat was strafed and attacked with 6 bombs by a Canadian Canso aircraft (RCAF Sqdn 5) off Newfoundland and recieved moderate damage. (Sources: Rohwer)
10 May 1943
At 18.41 hours, the boat was strafed and attacked with 2 bombs by a British Swordfish aircraft (FAA Sqdn 811 / M) from HMS Biter (D 97), escorting the convoy HX-237. No damage. (Sources: Rohwer)
30 Jul 1943
The boat was on the surface with the U-43 when Wildcat and Avenger aircraft from the escort carrier HMS Santee attacked the boats. Both dived and U-403 was attacked by two depth charges while the U-43 was attacked by a Fido homing torpedo. U-403 escaped but U-43 did not, being lost with all 55 hands. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 397)
18 Aug 1943
An attack on 18 Aug, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic near Dakar, in position 14.11N, 17.40W, by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn. 200/O) was believed to have sunk the U-403 but resulted only in minor damage.
The boat was sunk later that same day in another attack.
(Sources: 1993-06-01, FDS/NHB)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-403 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
U-boat Emblems
We have 1 emblem entry for this boat! See the emblem page for this boat or view each one below.
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