Heinrich Schäfer

Fregattenkapitän (Crew 32)

Successes
2 ships sunk, total tonnage 8,582 GRT

Born	30 Jan 1907		Wulsdorf, Bremerhaven
Died	8 Jan 1944	(36)	Shonan, Tokyo, Japan

If you can help with photo or any information on this Officer please contact us at gummi@uboat.net.

Ranks

1 Sep 1935		Oberfähnrich zur See
1 Jan 1936		Leutnant zur See
1 Oct 1937		Oberleutnant zur See
1 Oct 1939		Kapitänleutnant
1 Jan 1944		Fregattenkapitän

U-boat Commands

U-boat	From	To
U-183	1 Apr 1942	19 Nov 1943	3 patrols (320 days)
UIT-23	6 Dec 1943	7 Jan 1944	No war patrols

Though often listed as being with Crew VII/1925, the 1937 Rangliste states that Schäfer was part of Crew 1932.

In many sources he is said to have died in Singapore but according to our information (telegram dated 16 Jan 1944 from Tokyo) he died at 0506hrs in the Japanese Marine Hospital in Shonan where he arrived on December 28 with paratyphus A. On January 7 he had an appendicitis and was operated on the same day. Cause of death is circulatory system weakness because of both diseases.

Shonan is a suburb of Tokyo.

Patrol info for Heinrich Schäfer

	U-boat	Departure		Arrival
1.	U-183	19 Sep 1942	Kiel	23 Dec 1942	Lorient	Patrol 1,	96 days
2.	U-183	30 Jan 1943	Lorient	13 May 1943	Lorient	Patrol 2,	104 days
3.	U-183	3 Jul 1943	Lorient	30 Oct 1943	Penang	Patrol 3,	120 days
4.	U-183	10 Nov 1943	Penang	11 Nov 1943	Singapur		2 days
3 patrols, 320 days at sea

Ships hit by Heinrich Schäfer

Date	U-boat	Name of ship	Tons		Convoy
3 Dec 1942	U-183	Empire Dabchick	6,089	br	ONS-146

11 Mar 1943	U-183	Olancho	2,493	ho
			8,582
2 ships sunk (8,582 tons). Legend We have a picture of this vessel.