U-413

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug, 1940

Laid down

25 Apr, 1941

Danziger Werft, Danzig (werk 114)

Launched

15 Jan, 1942

Commissioned

3 Jun, 1942

Oblt. Gustav Poel (Knights Cross)

Commanders

3 Jun, 1942 - 19 Apr, 1944	Kptlt. Gustav Poel (Knights Cross)
20 Apr, 1944 - 20 Aug, 1944	Oblt. Dietrich Sachse

Career

8 patrols

3 Jun, 1942 - 31 Oct, 1942 8. Flottille (training)
1 Nov, 1942 - 20 Aug, 1944 1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

5 ships sunk for a total of 36.885 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 1.100 tons

Fate

Sunk on 20 Aug, 1944 in the English Channel south of Brighton, in position 50.21N, 00.01W, by depth charges from the British escort destroyer HMS Wensleydale and the destroyers HMS Forester and HMS Vidette. 45 dead and 1 survivor

See the 6 ships hit by U-413 - View the 8 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-413 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Jaguar (12 Jan, 1943 - 23 Jan, 1943)
   Pfeil (2 Feb, 1943 - 9 Feb, 1943)
   Meise (20 Apr, 1943 - 27 Apr, 1943)
   Star (28 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)
   Fink (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 1943)
   Leuthen (4 Sep, 1943 - 24 Sep, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

19 Nov, 1942
On 19 Nov, 1942 in the Atlantic, southwest of Cape St. Vincent in position 35.38N, 11.48W a British Hudson aircraft (RAF Sqdn. 608/C) depth charged a contact believing to have sunk the U-98.

This attack was in fact against U-413 which escaped severely damaged.

8 Jun, 1944
A British Halifax bomber (Sqdn 502, pilot J. Spurgeon) dropped four 600-pound bombs at the boat causing damages. Flak from the boat badly damaged the aircraft. The boat aborted its patrol and returned to base. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 583)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. 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-413 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.