Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 9 Oct 1939 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 3 Jan 1940 | Kriegsmarinewerft (KMW), Wilhelmshaven (werk 136) | ||||||||
| Launched | 26 Apr 1941 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 18 Jun 1941 | Korvkpt. Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 7 patrols |
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| Successes | 3 ships sunk, total tonnage 23,117 GRT 2 ships damaged, total tonnage 6,908 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 13 May, 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 48.37N, 22.39W, by depth charges from the Canadian corvette HMCS Drumheller, the British frigate HMS Lagan and depth charges from a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (RCAF Sqdn. 423/G). 47 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, June 1984). | |||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-753 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Schlei (19 Jan 1942 - 24 Jan 1942)
Westwall (2 Mar 1942 - 12 Mar 1942)
Luchs (27 Sep 1942 - 6 Oct 1942)
Panther (6 Oct 1942 - 16 Oct 1942)
Puma (16 Oct 1942 - 22 Oct 1942)
Natter (2 Nov 1942 - 8 Nov 1942)
Kreuzotter (8 Nov 1942 - 24 Nov 1942)
Hartherz (3 Feb 1943 - 7 Feb 1943)
Ritter (11 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
Drossel (11 May 1943 - 13 May 1943)
Attacks on this boat
26 Jan 1942
The boat escaped with only minor damage from being rammed by a British escort west of Ireland in the North Atlantic.
2 Jun 1942
At 11.03 hours, the boat unsuccessfully attacked the American steam merchant Domino (3170 grt) with gunfire off Nuevitas, Cuba. The AA gun malfunctioned when firing the first round and U-753 was lucky to escape undamaged by crash diving after the freighter returned fire with her 4in stern gun at once, firing three rounds and claiming a hit. (Sources: KTB U-753/ONO OP-414)
13 May 1943
The sinking of U-753
At 08.30 hours, the boat was spotted by a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (423 Sqdn RCAF/G, pilot F/L J. Musgrave) ten miles from convoy HX-237. AA fire from U-753 prevented an attack, so the Sunderland shadowed the boat for the next 20 minutes, only exchanging gunfire - they fired around 2000 rounds and were hit by one shell. HMCS Drumheller then forced the boat to dive by gunfire and the Sunderland immediately dropped two depth charges ahead of the swirl. A Swordfish aircraft from the British escort carrier HMS Biter arrived and marked the diving spot with smoke floats. The corvette was soon joined by HMS Lagan and together they sank U-753 with depth charges.
(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-753 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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