U-461

Type

XIV

Ordered

14 May 1940

Laid down

9 Dec 1940

Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 292)

Launched

8 Nov 1941

Commissioned

30 Jan 1942

Oblnt. Hinrich-Oscar Bernbeck

Commanders

30 Jan 1942	-	21 Apr 1942		Kptlt. Hinrich-Oscar Bernbeck
22 Apr 1942	-	30 Jul 1943		KrvKpt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler

Career
6 patrols

30 Jan 1942	-	30 Jun 1942	4. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1942	-	31 Oct 1942	10. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1942	-	30 Jul 1943	12. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk on July 30, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain in position 45.33N, 10.48W, by Australian Sunderland aircraft (U/461 Sqn.). 53 dead and 15 survivors.

Loss position

View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-461 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Wolf (26 Jul 1942 - 1 Aug 1942)
   Vorwärts (16 Sep 1942 - 20 Sep 1942)
   Rochen (26 Feb 1943 - 1 Mar 1943)

Attacks on this boat

23 Apr 1943
The Milch Cow U-461 was attacked in the Bay of Biscay by a Leigh-Light equipped Canadian Wellington aircraft (Sqdn 172/M) with three bombs. The boat suffered slight damage and as a result left an oil trace.

30 Jul 1943
The sinking of U-461 A group of three outbound boats (U-461, U-462 and U-504) was sighted by the British Liberator aircraft BZ730 (53 Sqdn RAF/O, pilot F/O W.J. Irving) in the Bay of Biscay. Its sighting report brought up six other aircraft and the 2nd Escort Group was sent to the area. The aircraft from six different Squadrons had no radio contact with each other, so a coordinated attack was difficult. The Liberator of 53 Squadron decided to attack U-461, but its depth charges undershot and the heavy AA fire hit two engines, forcing the aircraft to land in Portugal where the crew was interned for a short time. However, the Australian Sunderland W6077 (461 Sqdn RAAF/U, pilot F/L D. Marrows, RAAF) had closely followed the attack of the Liberator and sank U-461. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

2 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-461 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.