U-603

Type

VIIC

Ordered

22 May, 1940

Laid down

27 Feb, 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 579)

Launched

16 Nov, 1941

Commissioned

2 Jan, 1942

Kptlt. Kurt Kölzer

Commanders

2 Jan, 1942 - 12 Sep, 1942	Kurt Kölzer
13 Sep, 1942 - 2 May, 1943	Hans-Joachim Bertelsmann
3 May, 1943 - 28 Jan, 1944	Oblt. Rudolf Baltz
29 Jan, 1944 - 1 Mar, 1944	Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Bertelsmann

Career

5 patrols

2 Jan, 1942 - 30 Nov, 1942 5. Flottille (training)
1 Dec, 1942 - 1 Mar, 1944 1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

4 ships sunk for a total of 22.406 GRT

Fate

Sunk 1 March, 1944 in the North Atlantic, in position 48.55N, 26.10W, by depth charges from the US destroyer escort USS Bronstein. 51 dead (all hands lost).

See the 4 ships hit by U-603 - View the 5 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-603 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Ritter (14 Feb, 1943 - 26 Feb, 1943)
   Raubgraf (7 Mar, 1943 - 20 Mar, 1943)
   Trutz (1 Jun, 1943 - 16 Jun, 1943)
   Trutz II (16 Jun, 1943 - 2 Jul, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

4 Dec, 1942
While inbound with its captain ill the boat found a convoy and reported its position and began shadowing operations. The convoy escorts forced her down and attacked her for 2 hours without damages but managed to drive her off. Her contact reports brought in other U-boats. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 123)

8 Jul, 1943
A British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn 202, pilot G. Powell) attacked the boat causing some damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 345)

13 Oct, 1943
An Avenger aircraft from the US carrier Card dropped a Fido on U-603, but the U-boat was not damaged.

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-603 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.