U-257

Type

Sunk on 24 February 1944 in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, in position 47.19N, 26.00W, by depth charges from the Canadian frigate HMCS Waskesiu and the British frigate HMS Nene. 30 dead and 19 survivors.

Loss position

View the 6 war patrols

According to a crew member on HMCS Waskesiu the HMS Nene only participated in picking up survivors while the Canadian frigate dropped the depth charges, after both frigates had picked up an ASDIC signal that the Canadians insisted was a U-boat, that sank the boat.

Wolfpack operations

U-257 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Luchs (27 Sep 1942 - 6 Oct 1942)
   Falke (28 Dec 1942 - 19 Jan 1943)
   Landsknecht (19 Jan 1943 - 28 Jan 1943)
   Seewolf (25 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Adler (7 Apr 1943 - 13 Apr 1943)
   Meise (13 Apr 1943 - 20 Apr 1943)
   Specht (21 Apr 1943 - 25 Apr 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

5 Oct 1942
While closing on convoy HX 209, U-257 was attacked by an aircraft which dropped six bombs. The U-boat suffered such severe damage it had to return to base.

14 Jun 1943
16.05 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: while proceeding in company with U-600 and U-615 U-257 was strafed by a British Whitley bomber (10 OTU RAF/P, pilot P/O Orr), wounding one man. Three depth charges caused minor damage. Whitley (10 OTU RAF/E, pilot Sgt Manson) exchanged gunfire with this group shortly afterwards, but this aircraft had used up its depth charges in an earlier attack. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman/Rohwer)

14 Jun 1943
09.48 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: British Sunderland flying boat JM687 (228 Sqdn RAF/V, pilot F/O S. White) dropped three bombs on a group of three boats (U-257, U-600 and U-615). No damage. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

14 Jun 1943
16.05 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: while proceeding in company with U-600 and U-615 U-257 was strafed by a British Whitley bomber (10 OTU RAF/P, pilot P/O Orr), wounding one man. Three depth charges caused minor damage.
Whitley (10 OTU RAF/E, pilot Sgt Manson) exchanged gunfire with this group shortly afterwards, but this aircraft had used up its depth charges in an earlier attack.

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -