U-boat patrols

Patrol info for U-558


DepartureArrival / FateDuration
8 May 1943Brest20 Jul 1943Lost74 days

Commander

Officers *


Kptlt. Günther Krech

Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-558


We have 73 daily positions for the 74 days U-558 was at sea.

Wolfpack operations during this patrol

U-558 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
   Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
   Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
   Trutz 1 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)

Ships hit by U-558 during this patrol

General Events during this patrol

We have no events listed for this patrol.

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Attacks on U-558 during this patrol

14 Jul 1943
The boat was attacked by a British Wellington bomber (RAF Sqdn 179/M) off Lisbon. AA fire damaged the aircraft, which dropped depth charges without damaging U-558. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

17 Jul 1943
The boat was attacked by a British B-24 Liberator bomber (RAF Sqdn 224/P, pilot W/C A.E. Clouston, DFC, AFC) off Porto, Portugal. The aircraft bombed in bad weather from 300ft (91m) using radar and straddled the boat with 24 35lb A/S bombs. The remaining bombs hung up in a second attack, and the boat escaped with minor damage by crash-diving. AA fire and splinters from its own bombs hit the Liberator 31 times in the wings, fuselage and engines. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

20 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
American B-24 Liberator (19th A/S Sqn USAAF/B, pilot Lt H.E. Dyment)

The aircraft was apparently lost with its crew of ten after depth charging the inbound U-558 in the Bay of Biscay. The boat was sunk shortly afterwards in further air attacks. She was attacked by five aircraft in one week, shooting down one and damaging three. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

20 Jul 1943
The sinking of U-558

Approx 1200 hrs, Bay of Biscay, inbound: despite having the port inner engine stopped by flak, an American B-24 Liberator (19th A/S Sqn USAAF/F, pilot Lt C.F. Gallmeier) dropped seven depth charges which caused severe damage and left the boat unable to dive. While the Liberator was returning to base, British Halifax DT642 (RAF Sqdn 58/E, pilot F/L G.A. Sawtell) dropped a further eight depth charges, which finished off U-558. The only survivors were the commander, the 2 WO and three ratings. They were sighted by an RAF Liberator piloted by S/L T.M. Bulloch on 24 July and his report resulted in their rescue the day after by HMCS Athabaskan.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

About this data
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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.

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