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:
   West (13 Jun 1941 - 20 Jun 1941)
   Grönland (10 Aug 1941 - 23 Aug 1941)
   Kurfürst (23 Aug 1941 - 2 Sep 1941)
   Seewolf (2 Sep 1941 - 13 Sep 1941)
   Ziethen (6 Jan 1942 - 22 Jan 1942)
   Westwall (2 Mar 1942 - 12 Mar 1942)
   York (12 Mar 1942 - 26 Mar 1942)
   Pirat (29 Jul 1942 - 3 Aug 1942)
   Draufgänger (29 Nov 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Landsknecht (19 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