List of all U-boats
U-448
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 6 Aug 1940 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 1 Jul 1941 | F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1508) | ||||||||
| Launched | 23 May 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 1 Aug 1942 | Oblt. Helmut Dauter | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 4 patrols |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 14 April, 1944 in the North Atlantic north-east of the Azores, in position 46.22N, 19.35W, by depth charges from the Canadian frigate HMCS Swansea and the British sloop HMS Pelican. 9 dead and 42 survivors. | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-448 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Neptun (18 Feb 1943 - 28 Feb 1943)
Wildfang (28 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 7 Mar 1943)
Amsel (22 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
Amsel 3 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
Elbe 2 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
Schlieffen (14 Oct 1943 - 18 Oct 1943)
Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 14 Mar 1944)
Attacks on this boat and other events
22 Mar 1943
The attack on 22 March, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes, France, in position 46.47N, 09.58W, by depth charging from British Wellington aircraft (Sqdn. 172/G), credited with sinking U-665, was in fact directed against U-448, which escaped unscathed. (Sources: 1992-05-01, FDS/NHB)
17 Oct 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: Canadian Sunderland JM712 (RCAF Sqdn 422/S, pilot F/L P.T. Sargent)
At 12.48 hours the Sunderland attacked U-448 after obtaining a radar contact near convoy ONS-20. U-281 was nearby and assisted by firing at the aircraft with its AA guns during the first attack run. The four depth charges dropped fell short, so the aircraft turned around for a second attack, exchanging gunfire with both boats. The Sunderland then dropped two depth charges on U-448, but suffered heavy damage from flak, which killed the nose gunner and mortally wounded the navigator. The pilot had to ditch in heavy seas near the convoy. He and two aircrew died in the crash, but the remaining seven were picked up by HMS Drury. U-448 was seriously damaged by the last two depth charges and was forced to abort her patrol. Strafing killed one crewman and wounded two. [Oberbootsmaat Fritz Döhler] (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
17 May 1943. On 17 May, 1943 U-448 was forced to return to base from the North Atlantic by serious technical problems.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-448 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Media links
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