U-280

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down 30 Apr 1942 Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 45)
Launched4 Jan 1943
Commissioned13 Feb 1943Ltnt. Walter Hungershausen
Commanders
13 Feb 1943 - 16 Nov 1943  Oblt. Walter Hungershausen
Career1 patrol 13 Feb 1943 - 31 Jul 1943  8. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1943 - 16 Nov 1943  3. Flottille (front boat)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk 16 Nov, 1943 south-west of Iceland, in position 49.11N, 27.32W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 86/M). 49 dead (all hands lost).

View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat

16 Nov 1943
The sinking of U-280

At 10.25 hours the Liberator aircraft FL931 (86 Sqdn RAF/M, pilot F/O J.H. Bookless, RAAF) attacked the boat near convoy HX-265. In the first strafing attack the depth charges overshot and accurate AA fire knocked out the outer engine on the port side. Nevertheless the aircraft attacked again sinking U-280 with depth charges. The Liberator remained on patrol for an hour on three engines and then safely returned to base. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

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-280 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.



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

Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.