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 |
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| 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.
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