List of all U-boats

U-397

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

29 Aug 1942

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 29)

Launched

6 Oct 1943

Commissioned

20 Nov 1943

Oblt. Fritz Kallipke

Commanders

20 Nov 1943	-	16 Jul 1944	Oblt. (R) Fritz Kallipke
17 Jul 1944	-	25 Apr 1945	Oblt. Friedrich Stege
26 Apr 1945	-	5 May 1945	Kptlt. Gerhard Groth

Career
1 patrol

20 Nov 1943	-	31 May 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1944	-	30 Jun 1944	7. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1944	-	19 Feb 1945	23. Flottille (school boat)
20 Feb 1945	-	5 May 1945	31. Flottille (training)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Scuttled on 5 May 1945 in the Gelting Bay. Wreck broken up.

Final location

View the 1 war patrol

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-397 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.