U-168

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

15 Mar 1941

Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen (werk 707)

Launched

5 Mar 1942

Commissioned

10 Sep 1942

Kptlt. Helmut Pich

Commanders

10 Sep 1942

6 Oct 1944

Kptlt. Helmuth Pich

Career
4 patrols

10 Sep 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	4. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1943	-	30 Sep 1944	2. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	6 Oct 1944	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 6,568 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 1,440 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 9,804 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 0130hrs on 6 October, 1944 in the Java Sea, in position 06.20S, 111.28E, by a torpedo from the Dutch submarine HrMs Zwaardvisch. 23 dead and 27 survivors.

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-168 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-168 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Seeteufel (21 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Löwenherz (1 Apr 1943 - 10 Apr 1943)
   Lerche (10 Apr 1943 - 15 Apr 1943)
   Specht (21 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat

3 Nov 1943
At 22.10 hours (local time), the boat was attacked at night by a Catalina aircraft (413 Sqn RCAF/Y, pilot J. Gowans) while chasing the convoy MB-53 off Cochin. The flying boat located her by radar behind the convoy and attacked with a stick of four 250lb depth charges, which straddled the stern when the U-boat evaded by a hard turn to port and caused leaks and damage to the stern torpedo tubes. AA fire slightly damaged the empennage while the port blister gun returned fire until the U-boat dived after 10 minutes. Shortly thereafter U-168 headed directly for Penang and thus avoided an intense air search in the area of the attack during the next five days. The pilot was subsequently awarded a DFC for his actions. (Sources: AIR 25/931)

1 recorded attack 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-168 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.