List of all U-boats
U-468
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 1 Jul 1941 | Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 299) | ||||||||
| Launched | 16 May 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 12 Aug 1942 | Oblt. Klemens Schamong | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 3 patrols |
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| Successes | 1 ship sunk, total tonnage 6,537 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 11 Aug, 1943 near Bathurst, in position 12.20N, 20.07W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 200/D), which was shot down by U-468. 44 dead and 7 survivors. | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-468 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Ritter (11 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
Burggraf (4 Mar 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
Raubgraf (7 Mar 1943 - 16 Mar 1943)
Amsel (29 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
Amsel 3 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
Elbe 1 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
Mosel (19 May 1943 - 23 May 1943)
Without name (11 Jul 1943 - 29 Jul 1943)
Attacks on this boat
14 Mar 1943
While shadowing convoy ON-170 south of Greenland, U-468 was attacked and held down for hours by the corvette HMS Gentian, causing it to lose contact with the convoy. Date is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 259)
22 May 1943
The boat was attacked by an Avenger aircraft from the escort carrier USS Bogue (pilot Roger C. Kuhn) causing severe damage and forcing the boat to abandon patrol - arriving in France on May 29. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 336)
11 Aug 1943
The sinking of U-468
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator BZ832 (200 Sqdn RAF/D, pilot F/O L.A. Trigg, RNZAF).
09.45 hrs, southwest of Dakar: despite being hit by flak several times and set on fire, the aircraft continued the attack and dropped six depth charges to port, then crashed into the sea, killing the crew of 8. Two depth charges fell very close, causing devastating damage to the stern of the U-boat, which sank rapidly shortly afterwards. Less than half of the crew managed to abandon ship, many being injured or poisoned by chlorine gas, and most drowned or died from exhaustion or shark attack. Only the commander and six others survived, having managed to reach a rubber dinghy that floated free from the aircraft wreck, and later being picked up by HMS Clarkia on 13 August.
The B-24 Liberator pilot, Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg RNZAF, who sank U-468 but perished with his entire crew in doing so, was awarded the Victoria Cross based solely on the testimony of officers from the U-boat, including its commander Oblt Klemens Schamong. This was the only instance in the war of a statement from the enemy resulting in the award of such a high decoration. F/O Trigg pressed home his attack even though his aircraft was on fire and flying extremely low, an example of extraordinary bravery.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)3 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-468 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Media links
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