U-159
Type | IXC | |||||
| Ordered | 23 Dec 1939 | |||||
| Laid down | 11 Nov 1940 | AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1009) | ||||
| Launched | 1 Jul 1941 | |||||
| Commissioned | 4 Oct 1941 | Kptlt. Helmut Witte (Knights Cross) | ||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 5 patrols | 4 Oct 1941 - 30 Apr 1942 4. Flottille (training) 1 May 1942 - 28 Jul 1943 10. Flottille (front boat) | ||||
| Successes | 23 ships sunk for a total of 119,554 GRT 1 ship damaged for a total of 265 GRT | |||||
| Fate | Sunk 28 July, 1943 in the Caribbean Sea, south of Haiti, in position 15.57N, 68.30W, by depth charges from an American Mariner aircraft (VP-32, P-1). 53 dead (all hands lost). | |||||
See the 24 ships hit by U-159 - View the 5 war patrols
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by Axel Niestlé during December 1997. More on revised fates.
Sunk 15 July, 1943 in the Caribbean Sea east of Jamaica, in approximate position 15.58N, 73.44W, by depth charges from a US Mariner aircraft, P-10 (VP-32).
This attack sank the U-759.
Wolfpack operations
U-159 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Wohlgemut (12 Mar 1943 - 22 Mar 1943)
Seerauber (22 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
Attacks on this boat
13 Jul 1942
At 01.02 hours, the inbound boat was attacked with 3 bombs by a Leigh-Light equipped British Wellington (RAF Sqdn 172) in the Bay of Biscay. The bombs fell close on the port side and caused severe damages, leaving the boat unable to dive. Nevertheless, they managed to reach Lorient after about 12 hours. (Sources: Ritschel)
28 Mar 1943
Wolfpack Seeräuber (Pirate) attacked small convoy RS 3 and during which 3 ships were sunk and 3 U-boats (of 8) seriously damaged. U-159 was hit by aerial depth charges and was seriously damaged. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 204)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-159 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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