U-455

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered16 Jan 1940
Laid down3 Sep 1940 Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 286)
Launched21 Jun 1941
Commissioned21 Aug 1941Kptlt. Hans-Henrich Giessler
Commanders
21 Aug 1941 - 22 Nov 1942   Hans-Heinrich Giessler
22 Nov 1942 - 6 Apr 1944  Kptlt. Hans-Martin Scheibe
Career
10 patrols
21 Aug 1941-31 Dec 1941  5. Flottille (training)
1 Jan 1942-29 Feb 1944  7. Flottille (front boat)
1 Mar 1944-6 Apr 1944  29. Flottille (front boat)
Successes3 ships sunk for a total of 17,685 GRT
Fate

Listed as missing in the Mediterranean after 6 April, 1944, probably in or around the Ligurian Sea.

No explanation exists for its loss. 51 dead (all hands lost).

See the 3 ships hit by U-455 - View the 10 war patrols

U-455 reported for the last time on 2 April while on its return from its patrol area off Algiers.

Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by during April 2005. More on revised fates.)

Sunk 6 April, 1944 near La Spezia, in position 44.04N, 09.51E, by a mine, possibly German.

Wolfpack operations

U-455 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Hecht (27 Jan 1942 - 4 Feb 1942)
   Pfadfinder (21 May 1942 - 27 May 1942)
   Draufgänger (29 Nov 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (11 Dec 1942 - 30 Dec 1942)
   Without name (11 Jul 1943 - 23 Jul 1943)
   Schlieffen (14 Oct 1943 - 14 Oct 1943)

Attacks on this boat

4 Oct 1943
While being refueled by U-460 (along with U-264 and U-422) the boats were attacked by Avenger aircraft from the escort carrier Card. After putting up heavy flak the smaller VIIC boats dived leaving U-460 on the surface. She was destroyed when she also tried to dive. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 429)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Annoucements related to this boat

U-455 located off Genoa, Italy (23 Oct 2005)

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-455 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


We have an emblem for this boat!

You can view it here. (The emblem on the left is not the emblem for this boat).



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.



Related page:
U-boats Missing in Action.