List of all U-boats

U-972

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down15 Jun 1942 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 172)
Launched22 Feb 1943
Commissioned8 Apr 1943Oblt. Klaus-Dietrich König
Commanders
8 Apr 1943 - 15 Dec 1943  Oblt. Klaus-Dietrich König
Career
1 patrol
8 Apr 1943-30 Nov 1943  5. Flottille (training)
1 Dec 1943-15 Dec 1943  6. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Missing since 15 December 1943 in the North Atlantic. There is no explanation for its loss. 49 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, September 2003).

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

U-972 sent its last radio message on 15 December 1943 from approx. position 60.30N, 20.00W while en route to its operational area in the North Atlantic. The boat was ordered to operate with several wolfpacks during the following weeks and was only posted as missing on 1 February 1944 when it failed to arrive at Brest.

Previously recorded fate

  • The boat was sunk by one of its own acoustic torpedoes in late Dec 1943 in the North Atlantic.

Wolfpack operations

U-972 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Coronel 1 (15 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
   Sylt (18 Dec 1943 - 23 Dec 1943)
   Rügen 1 (23 Dec 1943 - 28 Dec 1943)
   Rügen 2 (28 Dec 1943 - 1 Jan 1944)

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-972 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Skull with Tophat

Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


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

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay




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