U-553

Type

VIIC

Ordered

25 Sep 1939

Laid down

21 Nov 1939

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 529)

Launched

7 Nov 1940

Commissioned

23 Dec 1940

Kptlt. Karl Thurmann (Knights Cross)

Commanders

23 Dec 1940 - 20 Jan 1943

KrvKpt. Karl Thurmann (Knights Cross)

Career

10 patrols

23 Dec 1940 - 1 Apr 1941  7. Flottille (training)
1 Apr 1941 - 30 Nov 1942  7. Flottille (front boat)
1 Dec 1942 - 20 Jan 1943  3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

13 ships sunk for a total of 64,612 GRT
2 ships damaged for a total of 15,273 GRT

Fate

Missing, presumed sunk, in the mid North Atlantic after going missing in January 1943. 47 dead (all hands lost).

See the 15 ships hit by U-553 - View the 10 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-553 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Steinbrock (1 Aug 1942 - 7 Aug 1942)
   Draufgänger (1 Dec 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Landknecht (22 Jan 1943 - 20 Jan 1943)

Attacks on this boat

15 Oct 1941
While tracking convoy SC-48 the boat was located by the escort destroyer Columbia that attacked the boat, which in turn fired a torpedo on the destroyer without. Both U-boat and destroyer escaped unharmed. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 369)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

25 Apr 1941. On 25 April, 1941 U-553 was forced to return to base due to major engine trouble.

20 Jan 1943. The boat sent its last radio-message on 20 Jan, 1943 when it reported: "Sehrohr unklar" (Periscope not clear). She was never heard from again.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-553 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2
Wynn, Kenneth