U-1172

Type

VIIC/41

Ordered

16 Jul, 1942

Laid down

7 Jun, 1943

Danziger Werft, Danzig (werk 144)

Launched

3 Dec, 1943

Commissioned

20 Apr, 1944

Oblt. Jürgen Kuhlmann

Commanders

20 Apr, 1944 - 27 Jan, 1945

Oblt. Jürgen Kuhlmann

Career

1 patrol

20 Apr, 1944 - 30 Nov, 1944 8. Flottille (training)
1 Dec, 1944 - 27 Jan, 1945 11. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 1.599 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 7.429 GRT
1 warship a total loss for a total of 11.400 tons

Fate

Sunk 27 Jan, 1945 in St George´s Channel, in position 52.24N, 05.42W, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS Tyler, HMS Keats and HMS Bligh. 52 dead (all hands lost).

See the 3 ships hit by U-1172 - View the 1 war patrol

Previously recorded fate (Last revised by FDS/NHB during April 1984). More on revised fates

Sunk 26 Jan, 1945 in the Irish Sea south of the Isle of Man, in position 53. 39N, 05. 23W, by ramming and depth charges from the British frigates HMS Aylmer, Calder, Bentinck and Manners. This attack was actually responsible for sinking the U-1051.

General notes on this boat

On 15 Jan, 1945 the boat claimed two torpedo attacks. They are believed to have been against the British escort carrier HMS Thane and the Norwegian tanker Spinanger which were both hit by torpedoes and damaged.

These ships were previously believed to have been hit by the U-482 but that boat was almost certainly lost in early December, 1944.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in December 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-1172 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.