U-421
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 10 Apr 1941 | |||
| Laid down | 20 Jan 1942 | Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 122) | ||
| Launched | 24 Sep 1942 | |||
| Commissioned | 13 Jan 1943 | Ltnt. Hans Kolbus | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 13 Jan 1943 - 31 Oct 1943 8. Flottille (training) 1 Nov 1943 - 31 Mar 1944 9. Flottille (front boat) 1 Apr 1944 - 29 Apr 1944 29. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||
| Fate | Sunk at 1200hrs on 29 April, 1944 in the Mediterranean near Toulon, France, in position 43.07N, 05.55E, by US bombs. | |||
Attacks on this boat
3 Jan 1944
At 00.16 hours, the inbound boat was attacked by the Leigh Light equipped British Liberator aircraft (224 Sqdn RAF/C, pilot F/O Ethan Allen) with eight depth charges and gunfire in the Bay of Biscay. U-421 fought back with AA fire and then escaped by crash-diving with only minor damages. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
2 Mar 1944
At 03.09 hours, the boat was attacked by a British Wellington Mk.XIV aircraft (179 Sqdn RAF, pilot S/L R.G. Knott) off Cape St. Vincent. The aircraft had located U-421 by radar and then illuminated it by Leigh Light, but the guns of the front gunner jammed already after 40 rounds. AA fire then knocked out the starboard engine, causing the six depth charges to miss and another AA hit in the bomb bay disabled the radar. The crew was forced to jettison all loose equipment, including the destroyed radar to keep the aircraft flying on one engine and they safely made it back to base after three hours. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
2 recorded attacks 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-421 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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