Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein

Fregattenkapitän (Crew 25)


Successes
3 ships sunk, total tonnage 23,117 GRT
2 ships damaged, total tonnage 6,908 GRT

Born  9 Mar 1908 Laurut, Galicia, Poland
Died  13 May 1943(35)North Atlantic


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

Ranks

1 Nov 1939Korvettenkapitän
1 May 1943Fregattenkapitän

Decorations

U-boat Commands

U-boatFromTo
U-753 18 Jun 1941 13 May 1943  (+)  7 patrols (252 days) 

Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein joined the Reichsmarine in 1925. He was a Naval Signals Officer (South) from March 1938 to June 1940, then in the South-West zone from July to Oct 1940. He went through U-boat training from Oct 1940 to May 1941 (Busch & Röll, 1999).

In May 1941 Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein began his U-boat familiarization (Baubelehrung) in preparation for his own command and on 18 June 1941 he commissioned the brand new type VIIC boat U-753 at Wilhelmshaven (Busch & Röll, 1999). The next 6 months he spent in the Baltic training both boat and men.

First War Patrol

On 24 Dec 1941 von Mannstein brought the boat out for its first war patrol. During the next 18 months he went out on 7 patrols, spending 252 days at sea (Busch & Röll, 1997). He sank 3 ships (23,117 GRT) and damaged 2 more (6,908 GRT) (Rohwer, 1998).

Black May 1943

Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein and his entire crew of 47 were lost when the boat was sunk on 13 May 1943 by 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) (Niestlé, 1998). This was during the massive convoy battles in the North Atlantic in May 1943 where the fortunes of war fell decisively against the U-boats, never to return.

Sources

Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II.
Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1997). Der U-Bootkrieg 1939-1945 (Band 2).
Niestlé, A. (1998). German U-boat losses during World War II.
Rohwer, J. (1998). Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two.

Patrol info for Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein


 U-boat Departure Arrival  
1. U-753 24 Dec 1941  Kiel  30 Dec 1941  Kiel  Patrol 1,7 days
2. U-753 17 Jan 1942  Kiel  1 Feb 1942  St. Nazaire  Patrol 2,16 days
3. U-753 26 Feb 1942  St. Nazaire  26 Mar 1942  La Pallice  Patrol 3,29 days
4. U-753 22 Apr 1942  La Pallice  25 Jun 1942  La Pallice  Patrol 4,65 days
5. U-753 1 Sep 1942  La Pallice  4 Sep 1942  La Pallice  Patrol 5,4 days
6. U-753 20 Sep 1942  La Pallice  8 Dec 1942  La Pallice  Patrol 5,80 days
7. U-753 28 Jan 1943  La Pallice  10 Mar 1943  La Pallice  Patrol 6,42 days
8. U-753 5 May 1943  La Pallice  13 May 1943  Sunk  Patrol 7,9 days
7 patrols, 252 days at sea

Ships hit by Alfred Manhardt von Mannstein

Date U-boat Name of ship Tons Nat. Convoy
20 May 1942U-753 George Calvert7,191am
22 May 1942U-753 E.P. Theriault (d.)326br
25 May 1942U-753 Haakon Hauan (d.)6,582nw
27 May 1942U-753 Hamlet6,578nw
 
22 Feb 1943U-753 N.T. Nielsen-Alonso9,348nwON-166
 30,025

3 ships sunk (23,117 tons) and 2 ships damaged (6,908 tons).

Legend
We have a picture of this vessel.
(d.) means the ship was damaged.

Media links


German U-boat Commanders of World War II

Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans-Joachim

Listing of all U-boat commanders