U-313

Type

VIIC

Ordered

25 Aug 1941

Laid down

11 May 1942

Flender Werke AG, Lübeck (werk 313)

Launched

27 Mar 1943

Commissioned

20 May 1943

Oblt. Friedhelm Schweiger

Commanders

20 May 1943 - 8 May 1945

Kptlt. Friedrich Schweiger

Career

12 patrols

20 May 1943 - 31 Dec 1943  8. Flottille (training)
1 Jan 1944 - 14 Sep 1944  11. Flottille (front boat)
15 Sep 1944 - 8 May 1945  13. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 8 May, 1945. Transferred to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, on 19 May and later to Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 27 Dec, 1945 in position 55.40N, 08.24W.

View the 12 war patrols

The U-boats that were in the Narvik area at the end of the war were all moved to the Skjomenfjord upon Allied orders to avoid conflicts with the Norwegians on 12 May. On 15 May, a German convoy of four ships (the fleet tender Grille with the staff of FdU Norwegen aboard, the fleet oiler Kärnten and the depot ships Huascaran and Stella Polaris) and 15 U-boats (U-278, U-294, U-295, U-312, U-313, U-318, U-363, U-427, U-481, U-668, U-716, U-968, U-992, U-997 and U-1165) left for transfer to Trondheim, but was intercepted after two days by the 9th Escort Group off the Norwegian coast and officially capitulated. While the ships were allowed to proceed to Trondheim, the U-boats were escorted to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, arriving on 19 May. All U-boats were later that month transferred to Lisahally or Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight.

General notes on this boat

9 May 1944. On 9 May, 1944 U-313 had to return to base due to severe technical problems with the depth rudders.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in December 1944. 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-313 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.