U-427

Type

VIIC

Ordered

5 Jun, 1941

Laid down

27 Jul, 1942

Danziger Werft, Danzig (werk 128)

Launched

6 Feb, 1943

Commissioned

2 Jun, 1943

Oblt. Carl-Gabriel Graf von Gudenus

Commanders

2 Jun, 1943 - 8 May, 1945

Oblt. Graf Karl-Gabriel von Gudenus

Career

5 patrols

2 Jun, 1943 - 1 Jun, 1944  8. Flottille (training)
1 Jun, 1944 - 31 Jul, 1944  7. Flottille (front boat)
1 Aug, 1944 - 4 Nov, 1944  11. Flottille (front boat)
5 Nov, 1944 - 28 Feb, 1945  13. Flottille (front boat)
1 Mar, 1945 - 8 May, 1945  14. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

At Narvik, Norway on May 19, 1945. Transferred to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, for Operation Deadlight.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 21 December 1945 at 56.04N x 09.35W by unknown causes.

View the 5 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

29 Apr, 1945
During an attack on convoy RA.66 U-427 unsuccessfully attacked two of its escorts, the Canadian destroyers HMCS Haida and Iroquois. The escorts fought back and dropped a total of 678 depth charges on U-427's believed position during a several hour long hunt. Through some good luck and no doubt equal skill the U-boat escaped the area. This is believed to the second last attack on an Arctic convoy.

4 May, 1945
While taking part in the last convoy attack of the war the boat was severely damaged by escorts and, unable to dive, was escorted by U-968 and U-481 back to Kirkesnes, Norway, arriving on May 8. Date given here is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 681)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in March 1945. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-427 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.