U-445
Type | VIIC | |||||
| Ordered | 6 Aug 1940 | |||||
| Laid down | 9 Apr 1941 | F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1505) | ||||
| Launched | 19 Mar 1942 | |||||
| Commissioned | 30 May 1942 | Oblt. Heinz-Konrad Fenn | ||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 9 patrols | 30 May 1942 - 31 Oct 1942 8. Flottille (training) 1 Nov 1942 - 24 Aug 1944 6. Flottille (front boat) | ||||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||
| Fate | Sunk 24 Aug, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of St. Nazaire, France, in position 47.21N, 05.50W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Louis. 52 dead (all hands lost). | |||||
Wolfpack operations
U-445 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Drachen (25 Nov 1942 - 25 Dec 1942)
Ungestüm (14 Dec 1942 - 23 Dec 1942)
Robbe (16 Feb 1943 - 13 Mar 1943)
Attacks on this boat
2 Jan 1944
Early in the morning a British Halifax bomber (Sqdn 58, T.A. Griffiths) dropped 5 depth charges. The boat escaped unharmed. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)
14 Feb 1944
The boat fired at a "destroyer" but was attacked in return by British Support Group 3. The boat was severely damaged but got away. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 500)
14 Aug 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 172/K)
Aircraft shot down on the Brest - La Pallice route.
3 recorded attacks on this boat.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. 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-445 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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