List of all U-boats

U-802

Type

IXC/40

 
Ordered7 Dec 1940
Laid down1 Dec 1941 Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen (werk 360)
Launched31 Oct 1942
Commissioned12 Jun 1943Kptlt. Rolf Steinhaus
Commanders
12 Jun 1943 - 12 Dec 1943  Kptlt. Rolf Steinhaus
13 Dec 1943 - 11 May 1945  Kptlt. Helmut Schmoeckel
Career
4 patrols
16 May 1943-31 Jan 1944  4. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1944-30 Nov 1944  2. Flottille (active service)
1 Dec 1944-8 May 1945  33. Flottille (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 1,621 GRT
Fate

Surrendered on 11 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll, Scotland.

Later transferred to Lisahally, Northern Ireland.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 31 Dec, 1945 in position 55.30N, 08.25W.

Final location

See the 1 ships hit by U-802 - View the 4 war patrols

Attacks on this boat and other events

28 Apr 1944
The target of the depth charge attack on 28 April 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes, France in position 45.38N, 09.43W, by a British Wellington aircraft (612 Sqn RAF/W), formerly credited with sinking U-193, was actually U-802, which escaped undamaged. (Sources: 1996-07-01, Axel Niestlé)

19 Aug 1944
En route to the St. Lawrence River at night, the boat was ambushed by the USS Bogue hunter-killer group, and three depth charges from one of the aircraft caused minor damage (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 622)

28 Aug 1944
SW of St Pierre et Miquelon: Allied aircraft forced the boat to dive. No damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 622)

14 Sep 1944
The boat fired a T-5 torpedo at a "destroyer" in the St. Lawrence seaway, which missed, and was in turn attacked by escorts, but managed to escape, entering Bergen, Norway 12 Nov. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 622)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

You can listen to the second and last commander of U-802, Helmut Schmoeckel, speak of his late-war experiences on our Commander Interviews pages.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in June 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from the boat

11 Apr 1944
An accident required the amputation of a man's finger.

  Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -

U-boat Emblems

We have 2 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


2nd Flotilla

Clover and N

Media links


The Grey Wolves of Eriboll

David M. Hird


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942-1947

Madsen, Chris


amazon.com
($ 58.77)


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


Dark Sky, Deep Water

Franks, Norman




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